$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$**""""""**$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$"" "*$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$P" "$$$$$$$ $$$$$$" *$$$$$ $$$$P ...eee... "$$$$ $$$P zd$$P"" "*$$$e. '$$$ $$$ z$$$$P" "$$$$b. 3$$ $$F e$$$$$P ^$$$$$$. $$ $$Fz$$$$$$$ 3$$$$$$b $$ $$F*$$$$$$$ J$$$$$$P $$ $$L ^*$$$$$L .$$$$$$" $$ $$$ *$$$$b .$$$$P" J$$ $$$b ^*$$$b. .e$$$*" 4$$$ $$$$b """***""" z$$$$ $$$$$$. d$$$$$ $$$$$$$b. z$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$c. .d$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ee.....zed$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ "YOU'RE WATCHING ... CBS ... WELCOME HOME." ================================================================= : Last Week {Jerry Straite has a near-unconscious Joey by the hair, leaning over him among the wreckage of a steel chair.} [Jerry Straite] So you think I DON'T MATTER, PUNK?!?! {slaps Joey twice, back and forth, across the face} Well, how'd you like that, you stupid little son of a-- {Straite is tackled by security, pulling him off of Joey as the scene fades out.} ================================================================= {Toshiaki Hasegawa and Tank Bradley are in the Team Stevens locker room; by Hasegawa's disheveled, slightly bloodied appearance, it's obviously the same night. Bradley is standing calmly in the background while Hasegawa has what amounts to a temper tantrum -- throwing chairs, kicking lockers, etc.} [Hasegawa] Masters, I've had it with you sticking your nose in our business! You can't be me, so you keep trying to do everything you possibly can to eliminate me -- well, I've had enough! You wanna get your little friends involved -- more victims. You wanna play with toys -- we can play with toys. I'm tired of putting up with this crap -- no more playing nice. {Toshiaki continues to throw things as Bradley speaks.} [Bradley] Masters, I wouldn't make any plans past Danse Macabre because we plan on having two graves dug in that area to deposit what's left of you in after that match. Your partner's already got one foot in the grave, all we're going to do is push him all the way in. This is more than just defending these belts, Masters. This is about beating you until they can't even identify you with dental records. [Hasegawa] Masters, we may be known as Agony and Ecstasy, but there's gonna be nothing but Agony in what's left of your pathetic little career. ================================================================= {Fade into the sound of whistling wind and a familiar guitar lick -- as "Twilight Zone" by Golden Earring begins to play, we see a black background, in front of which a pair of gloved hands load a round into a rifle and snap the chamber shut. The gun turns towards the screen, and almost at the same time the camera view turns with it, to end up behind the sight.} [Music] It's 2am (it's 2 am)/Fear is gone (fear is gone) I'm somewhere where/The Gun's still warm Thinking my connection/Is tired of taking chances {The black background is interrupted by a roaming "gunsight" view, within which AWI action can be seen; the sight moves across the screen, every so often cutting to change directions (and video footage).} [Music]: Now I'm steppin' into the Twilight Zone ... {Sight moves from left to right; Danny Boy McGill cinches the McGill Leglock on D.A. Bookthrower.} [Music]: This is a madhouse/Feels like being home ... {Sight moves from bottom upwards; Steve the Insane throws Nick Vorpal into a Frontal Lobotomy.} [Music]: My feet they can't move/Under moon and star ... {Sight moves from lower left to center and back to upper left (in a ">" pattern); Kerry Masters connects with an "Epitome Press" standing moonsault on Reverend Jeremiah James.} [Music]: Where am I to go Now that I've gone too far ... {Sight moves from lower right to upper left in broad arc; Tank Bradley subjects Justice to the Nail in the Coffin.} [Music]: You will come to know/when the bullet hits the bone. {Sight moves from left to right, jagging up and down erratically; Greg Gardner uses an Atomic Bomb on John "Asylum" Smith.} [Music]: You will come to know ... when the bullet hits the bone ... {Cut to a scene of four simultaneous "gunsights" (without the internal video), converging on slightly wobbly paths towards the lower left corner. As the four intersect, a loud drumbeat corresponds with the crack of a gunshot; the screen flashes bright white, then fades into the logo: ================================================================= __ __ __ __ ____ =================== /\ \ /\ \ /\ \/\ \/\ _\ /~/\ \~\ /~/ /~/ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \ `\\ \ \ \L_ / /\ \ \ \/\/ / / / \ \ \ \ \ \\ \ , ` \ \ _\ /_/ \_\ \_\_\/ /_/ \ \ \__\ \ \\ \ \`\ \ \ \L_ =================== \ \___\\ \_\\ \_\ \_\ \___\ \/___/ \/_/ \/_/\/_/\/___/ __|__ / | \ ___ ____ __ _____ ____ { /|\ } /'___\ /\ _\ /\ \ /\ __`\ /\ _\ ---+-|-O-|-+--- ___ /\ \__/ \ \ \/_\ \ \\ \ \L\ )\ \ \L_ { \|/ } / __`\ \ ,__\ \ \ _\\ \ \\ \ , / \ \ _\ \__|__/ /\ \L\ \ \ \_/ \ \ \/ \ \ \\ \ \\ \ \ \ \L_ | \ \____/\ \_\ \ \_\ \ \_\\ \_\ \_\\ \___\ \/___/ \/_/ \/_/ \/_/ \/_/\/_/ \/___/ ================================================================= : >>BIRD'S-EYE CAM<< {Our view pans over yet another madly cheering crowd, alerted to their presence on television by the sounds of cannon fire. As the camera drops to its usual slide by the front rows, we see fans dressed in various AWI paraphenilia (including quite a few "I [Texas silhouette] Colt Kawaii" and "War Machine" blueprint t-shirts), and dozens of signs waved around. Finally, we reach the pressbox area, where three men are seated -- a clean-cut Hispanic gentleman in a well-pressed suit; a wild-haired, wild-eyed man wearing a Looking 4 A Fight t-shirt; and an athletic blond man wearing a loose yellow silk shirt, a blue denim jacket with short, ragged sleeves (and sporting a button with the slogan "NJN = TVC"), circular sunglasses, and a terry-cloth headband with "Press" written on it in marker.} : Justin Escobar Mike Marone Chad Swayze [Escobar] OLA, aficionados! The excitement in this crowd is just ELECTRIC, as they await the great night of action we have waiting for you! Steve the Insane promises to pull out all the stops as he faces the equally unbalanced "Scarecrow", Dominic Nightshade! [Swayze] No, no, no, Escobo -- Dominic is just a little *frightening* ... he's nowhere NEAR as "unbalanced" as Steve. THAT nut actually put a price on his OWN head! Think about that -- when Dominic snaps Steve's neck and cripples him for life, Steve has to use his insurance settlement to PAY the Scarecrow for doing it! It's, like, thanking the man who ruined your life! {laugh} You gotta love it! [Escobar] Well, I will recognize that Steve is certainly taking a big risk there ... this man has such a love for the sport that he's willing to go to ANY lengths to continue plying his trade. That level of dedication could be appreciated by the subjects of our main event tonight -- the WAR MACHINE, Greg Gardner, takes on the self-proclaimed Master of the Northern Lights Suplex, Maurice Jackson ... [Swayze] And he couldn't have picked a worse time to do it, could he? This isn't some newcomer from overseas like Stefan Schrieber was -- he's facing wrestling ROYALTY tonight, now that Maurice Jackson has joined forces with Alliyah Johnston and her mastermind's gambit, Checkmate! [Marone] {shaking head} I don't know much about chess, but I'm pretty sure there's only one king -- and eight pawns. I know *I* wouldn't like those odds, Mo. [Swayze] Yeah, but it's first come, first serve, so he's OK. [Escobar] We'll see ... for now, let's take a look at a newcomer to the AWI *Women's* Division, a woman who may very soon be locking up with the likes of other Checkmate members like Talia Yamahara and Tiger Z ... ================================================================= {A brief computer graphic of yellow lightning sizzling against a blue background is replaced by a fade in of a small TV studio, draped with a neon yellow satiny material. Skipping rope before the camera is a compact, rather buxom woman. Her red hair is in a ponytail, and she sports a good tan, especially for a redhead. She is wearing an electric blue sports-top with matching bicycle pants that have yellow lightning bolts down each side, and yellow boxing shoes. The woman does a few complex rope tricks, crossing over and double-looping, etc., then sets the rope down and picks up a towel. Drying herself off, she flashes a million-watt smile at the camera.} [Woman] Hey, folks. Now that the AWI's going strong again, I figure it's time to send a little jolt through the women's division. Tommie Sparks' the name, but they call me "The Live Wire." I take life at a thousand miles an hour, and what I do in the ring is no exception! But don't take my word for it, fans -- you'll be seeing me real soon, and it's gonna be hectic and electric! 'Cause the Live Wire's gonna shock you, baby, and don't you doubt it for a minute. Now I have some work to do, but I'll see you in the arena! {Tommie picks up the rope again, and begins double-time skipping as the scene fades out. The lightning symbol flashes on the screen for an instant before the camera cuts away.} ================================================================= [Swayze] Oh, that's real good -- what's she gonna do, ropeskip her enemies into submission? Maybe throw in a little hopscotch when the heat is on ... >>AISLE<< {"Live Wire" by Motley Crue plays over the speakers, and the same woman just shown sprints down the aisle, pausing barely moments at various places to acknowledge a decent crowd cheer ...} [Escobar]: It looks like we're about to find OUT what she's "gonna do," Chad, as she's ready to take on Janet LeVond in her television debut. [Marone]: Well, TV match debut. She was just on TV five seconds ago. [Swayze]: Good for her. Tori's running out of toys to play with -- it's good to see the AWI doing something about it. [Escobar]: Somehow I think Tommie's looking for more than that out of her stay here ... {Sparks reaches the ring and circles around, still pumped up, with LeVond, a shortish brunette who's obviously spent time powerlifting ... LeVond signals for a test of strength, and Tommie takes a lap around her, then moves in to accept -- but pulls LeVond's hands down into a wristlock instead ...} [Marone]: You know, I think this is Janet LeVond's TV debut too -- I would've remembered a brick wall like that. [Escobar]: LeVond certainly with an impressive physique-- and Tommie seems in no hurry to lock up ... she moves in finally -- no! Tommie with a quick reversal, and LeVond's test of strength is suddenly the wrong end of a wristlock! [Swayze]: Now how fair is that? She should call herself "Lying Wire"! [Escobar]: It's not illegal to turn down a challenge like that, Chad -- [Swayze]: NOW you tell me ... I'd still be wrestling if I'd known that. {Sparks quickly uses the leverage gained by the wristlock to send LeVond into the ropes, giving her the chance to perform a backdrop and following it up with a jumping splash. She picks her up, whips her into the ropes again, and tries for a clothesline, but LeVond ducks it, and scoops up Tommie for a bodyslam.} [Escobar]: Tommie swiftly putting herself in total control of this matchup ... high-elevation backdrop, and high elevation HERSELF from a standing jump splash! LeVond back on her feet, Sparks has her into the ropes again, clo-- LeVond out of the way -- big body slam! [Swayze]: Which just goes to show, all the enthusiasm in the world won't protect a smaller wrestler from a heartless bruiser who wants her soul -- which reminds me, who else besides Tori is in the Overture Danse? {LeVond capitalizes on the change in offensive, stomping on Sparks viciously, then powering her to the mat with a fallaway slam.} [Escobar]: I think Tori will have a great deal of competition in that event: Dacia Blackthorne ... Angela Dante and Brenda Storm ... the "Billion Dollar Babe" Melissa Wright ... all three of the Checkmate women -- OLA, what a fallaway slam! That may have just finished this match! [Swayze]: Tommie? Tommie, can you hear me? {LeVond picks up Sparks, and after taunting the crowd for a bit, picks her up for a powerbomb -- to have it promptly reversed into a rana ... she staggers to her feet, but Sparks hits a fierce DDT almost immediately ...} [Escobar]: LeVond looking to finish this ... looks like a powerbomb -- CASTIGO hurricarana! LeVond disoriented, she's up -- SHE'S DOWN! Sparks with an UNBELIEVABLE DDT, and she makes a cover ... 1 ... 2 ... 3 !!! [Allen] Ladies and gentlemen, your winner ... "LIVEWIRE" ... TOMMIE ... SPAAAAAARRRKSSS!! [Escobar]: Shades of Showtimes there, as Sparks rolls out of the ring, looking almost ready to thank each member of the audience personally for cheering her to victory! [Swayze]: Pure luck, Justino -- all I can say is, if Tori ever gets a hold of her, there won't be enough voltage left to power a night-light ... ================================================================= WHEN WE RETURN: Two students carry on their teachers' fight! COMMERCIALS: Doug Flutie says, "use 10-10-220 to save money on phone calls, AND help autistic children!" ... watch MARTIAL LAW on CBS Friday ... When pizza's on a bagel, you can eat pizza anytime ... ================================================================= {Tape opens up to inside what appears to be a martial dojo. A man in windbreakers and a blue tanktop is doing some sprints. He stops and starts to speak.} [Scott Deda] Hey, it's me again. You know since the last time I checked Corey, you haven't won a match cleanly in a long time. I mean, you always have someone running in to save you and make sure you make sure you end up looking like a fool that can't win a match on his own. Last time Corey, Ed had you beat. But the last person on this earth worthy of being called a ninja, your mentor Robbie, had to get involved and distract the ref so you could get a win. {Scott pauses and shakes his head} I've seen your tricks Corey. Believe me, they are not gonna work. I've waited too long to get my feet on you. Yes, that's right -- feet. I'm gonna kick a hole straight through your head. Shouldn't be too hard seeing there's nothing in there. You may not know this, but I was trained in the martial arts. Robbie claims to be the New Jersey Ninja, and to have a 104th degree black belt. I kinda feel bad for New Jersey -- I mean who would want to admit you were raised there? Plus, you may have a 104th degree black belt, but Robbie, I doubt you could even do a front kick right. I think Big Poppa was more of a martial artist than you. The fact remains, though, Corey, without Robbie you are nothing. Somehow I don't see Robbie interfering in this. Just call it a hunch. {Ed Carr enters from the side.} [Ed] Easy kid -- we don't wanna give anything away. See, Robbie, since you have your beach bum, I got my own beach bum. I bet my beach bum can beat up your beach bum though. Scott's got a slightly more dangerous mentor than Bonham. As for you, Stevens -- try something, I'm beggin' you. Danse Macabre is only a couple weeks away Robbie -- hope you and your gang of idiots are ready. My boys and I will be waiting ... {smirks} and damn if we don't already have a couple tricks up our sleeves. {to Scott} All right, enough slacking ... back to work. ================================================================= {The screen retracts back into a chamber in a computer-animated revolver, which then spins, stopping at another chamber, which ejects a new clip ...} ================================================================= {Cut to the locker room where Robbie Stevens and Corey Bonham are standing by. Robbie is still working on the Rubik's Cube.} [Robbie] Trust me ... any sec ... (notices the camera) Here, hold this ... {Robbie hands the cube over to Corey and starts to address the camera. Corey looks at the cube and starts turning it.} [Robbie] Now, as you may have noticed, AWI hasn't given me my title back yet. Don't think this will not go unpunished. I am still *YOUR* TV Champion, the fact that known felon currently has his grubby paws on my belt makes me sick to my stomach ... but, he may have the gold, but I've still got the title ... AWI Television Champion, Robbie Stevens. I will give you guys one more week, and then I will have to take action. Now, the Danse Macabre is just around the corner and after looking at the line up I noticed that Ed Carr has gone and got himself a bunch of his two bit thugs into that event in hopes of outnumbering us ... [Corey] {still working on the cube} Dude, that is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO like him. [Robbie] But the fact of the matter is Ed, it's two bit thugs who were trained by you. And since my two bit ... I mean, protege, Corey here, beat you 1-2-3 in the middle of the ring, then by simple mathematics we learn that Robbie Stevens is greater than Corey who is greater than Ed Carr and therefore, greater than all of your little toadies. So first off, we don't have anything to worry about them. Second, we've decided to test out one of these Special Ed Students this week, as we take on "Tsunami" Scott Deda ... now, I can't figure out why Ed would even think of teaming with someone named Tsunami to begin with ... but Corey, tell him what you're going to do. {Corey hands Robbie back the cube, which has been solved.} [Robbie] HEY! I was working on that ... I almost had it! [Corey] Dude, don't sweat it. Like, I can put it right back ... [Robbie] No! Don't even bother! You ruined the whole thing ... [Corey] Sorry, dude. So like, Scott Dude-ah. He like, comes in to AWI and like says a whole bunch of totally bogus things about me and my numero uno amigo Robbie. And like he says that I'm getting nothing for Christmas and I'm like ... Dude, it's October. Like, Santa doesn't show up at the mall for like another week and like, I'm sure to get something because, like, I used to work with the jolly red dude every year when I was in high school as an elf, so like, I'm gonna get something... [Robbie] Will you talk about the match already? [Corey] Dude, like, what's with the hostility ... it's just a cube, I said I could put it right back ... Oh yeah, so like, just because Wanto showed you a few submission holds, like, you think you're the king of the world or something. Well, Wanto taught me a deadly submission hold too, Dude-ah ... and like, if I put the dreaded FFL on you like, you'll be crying for mommy ... [Robbie] FFL? Front Fa-- [Corey] DUDE! Don't say that name! So anyways, like after this match, like I'm going to hit you with the FFL, the Wicked Awesome Super Kick and like, to top it all off, the San Fernando Valley Driver, and then like you won't even make it to the Danse and then it'll be like two on ... (checks his fingers) two ... and like two of us of us will TOTALLY cream any two of you ... [Robbie] That's right. All the momentum's going my way. I'm still the TV Champ. I manage the North American Tag Champs. Tori's going to win the Women's Title. Corey's going to put Deda in a body cast and I'm going to get a new cube and prove to you all in 10 seconds I can solve this thing. Ed Carr, I hope for your sake Scottie named you as a beneficary in his will, because after this week, you won't be able to leech anymore money off of him. ================================================================= >>RINGSIDE<< [Escobar]: And we've just heard from the two principals in our next exciting match-up, pitting individuals from two organizations that are really starting to develop a rivalry. [Swayze]: Alllllllllright! My favorite part of the show: the Team Stevens Master Surgeons demonstration! This week's operation, a Pride-ectomy from all-wet Scottie! [Marone]: Was it just me, or did they sorta seem on edge? I mean, it's like you guys weren't getting along or something. [Swayze]: Hey, don't start spreading rumors, man -- that kinda stuff gets around! Of COURSE Team Stevens is getting along! We're as one mind, got it? One nation, under Robbie, and all that jazz ... jeez, don't even THINK about saying that! [Marone] Sorry ... it just sorta looked like you guys weren't g-- [Swayze]: WHAT did I just SAY?! [Escobar]: OK, simmer down -- we've got a match to call. [Rod Allen] {stepping into the ring} Ladies and gentlemen, our next contest tonight is set for one fall, with a time limit of ten minutes ... introducing first, weighing in at two hundred thirty-four pounds ... from the city of Miami, Florida, this is "Tsunami" ... Scott Deda! {"Tsunami" heads to the ring, looking charged up, while Ed Carr trails behind him with a cynical smirk.} [Swayze]: Ay caramba, what a loser ... heck, I could beat him without breaking a sweat, so Corey shouldn't have any problems either. [Marone]: How come you /aren't/ fighting him, then? [Swayze]: Oh, well, Robbie kinda likes to keep me back for the really tough fights -- sortuva a special-missions kind of thing, like Army Rangers or Navy SEALs ... you could say I'm Team Stevens's secret weapon. [Marone]: How can it be a secret if you just told everybody on TV? [Swayze]: You just don't understand special ops. [Allen] And his opponent tonight, weighing in at two hundred thirty-one pounds ... accompanied to the ring tonight by his manager, Robbie Stevens, from San Fernando, California ... Corey Bonham! [Swayze]: Oh yeah! The doctor is ready to op-er-aaaate! [Marone]: I really don't think Bonham made it through medical school. [Escobar]: I don't think he made it through high school ... but then, we know he didn't make it through Ed Carr's wrestling school, either. [Swayze]: Hey, he had a superior education, man. The school of hard rock! [Marone]: I thought it was the school of hard knocks. [Swayze]: No way, compadre -- that's painful. {Carr, Stevens, and referee Tom Newman get into a confrontation in the ring, with Newman getting in the way of Carr, and Robbie obviously alternating between making threats and hiding behind the ref.} [Escobar]: Some sort of pre-match altercation ... and it looks like Newman is sending Ed away from the ring here! This is ridiculous! [Swayze]: Hey, what's wrong with trying to keep this thing fair? [Marone]: Nothing. I wish Robbie would try it sometime. [Escobar]: Carr seems surprisingly calm, though, as he gives some last-minute instructions to Scott ... and he heads to the back looking grim ... and we're ready to start. {Bonham opens the fight with a side kick, stunning Deda long enough to scoop him up for a bodyslam. He follows this with a kneedrop, then rakes Scott across the eyes before pulling him up. Bouncing back off the ropes, he connects with a front kick, then tries to whip Deda to the turnbuckle; Deda blocks the whip, and hits a standing dropkick on Bonham.} [Escobar]: Deda's enthusiasm may have cost him here -- Bonham may not be straight-arrow, but he's still dangerous. [Marone]: Scott's still young ... his wisdom lumps probably haven't come all the way in yet. They're still a few chairs away. [Escobar]: A strong start by "Way Cool, Jr.", who is firmly in control right no-- I may have spoke too soon! [Swayze]: Yeahyeahyeah, so Sue Nammy here gets in ONE lucky move. {Deda picks up Bonham and delivers a spinning neckbreaker.} [Marone]: That's TWO lucky moves. [Swayze]: Hey, since when did you become the Count? Only a -- a momentary setback, yeah! {He then climbs up the corner, and leaps off with a corkscrew moonsault -- Corey rolls aside, and Scott hits the mat hard.} [Swayze]: Ha-HA! See? Momentary setback, bay-bee. [Escobar]: So it would seem -- Scott Deda tried for the high risk maneuver-- [Swayze]: --and just blew his insurance rating! Ha! {Both men stand up; Bonham gets the jump on Scott, scooping him up and slamming him down. He tries another knee drop, but this time Scott gets a snap kick from the floor to cut Corey off. [Escobar]: Bonham continuing to keep up the attack -- but a perceptive counter from Deda regains the advantage! [Marone]: This kid really is pumped, man. Most people would just roll out of the way, but he gets right on the attack. {Moving on top of Corey, he locks on an STF, then rolls to one side, lifting Corey into the air.} [Escobar]: And now Tsunami switches gears to a slower pace, locking Corey Bonham into a reverse stepover toehold with facelock ... [Marone]: Is that what that is? I thought it was an upside down STF. [Escobar]: I-- [Swayze]: Don't. Just let it go. {Robbie yells something at Deda, moving on the apron as if to enter; Deda breaks the hold to adopt a defensive posture, as Corey staggers up.} [Escobar]: Uh-oh ... Scott Deda perhaps showing a little inexperience here -- he's dividing his attention between Robbie and Corey, to his disadvantage ... [Swayze]: That's his problem, Escobo -- as long as Robbie hasn't touched him, he doesn't even deserve a warning! [Escobar]: {low voice} Well, that's not ENTIRELY true, but ... {Deda notices Corey rising, and throws a thrust kick behind him; Corey ducks it, and responds with a side kick -- which Deda avoids by dropping to the mat, then sweeping Corey's legs out from under him.} [Escobar]: ... but Deda remains on his game! Corey out of the way -- but he still goes down! Scott Deda making a small exhibition of his own martial arts talents ... [Marone]: Whoa! The only time I ever moved that fast in the ring, it was when I was falling down! {Scott picks up Bonham and hits another neckbreaker.} [Escobar]: And he follows it with a stunning technical offense! Given time to settle himself here in AWI, and Scott Deda could become a real force here -- this young man seems to combine any number of effective elements into his attack plan: martial arts training, a schooling in submission style wrestling apparently from Ed's associate Wanto Parker-- {He moves to the corner, climbing onto the second turnbuckle as Corey gets back to his knees, and jumps off to nail Bonham with an axe kick to the back of the head.} [Escobar]: --and not just a little aerial power, like that! [Swayze]: Hey, what are you, on Ed's payroll or something? OK, so the new kid has maybe three or four good moves -- let's not blow this up into wrestling's messiah! {smugly} There's only room for ONE Robbie Stevens, after all. [Escobar]: {soto voce} Well, obviously we already knew whose payroll you're on ... {Bonham pulls Corey up, and Corey throws his hands up in a pleading fashion -- a fake attempt, followed quickly by a shot to the face, which Deda is fast enough to block. This time, Deda scores with the thrust kick, knocking Corey down.} [Escobar]: Attempted cheapshot from Corey Bonham, gets him NOWHERE but flat on the mat! [Swayze]: Oh, come on, Justino, you don't think he's HURT, do you? He's just rolling on the mat LAUGHING, because of that lame imitation of the ONE and ONLY, Wicked Awesome Superkick! {Deda heads back on top the turnbuckle, as Corey gets back on his feet; Robbie begins making a fuss to the referee, who heads over to make him be quiet.} [Marone]: Robbie must agree with you -- maybe that's what he's complaining about now. {Deda leaps off at Bonham, who ducks and lets Scott fly over him; he then begins stomping hard with the heavy boot.} [Escobar]: Perhaps -- but he's also giving Corey Bonham a chance to freely abuse Deda with that weighted boot of his! [Swayze]: {exaggerated surprise} What was that? Did I hear you say, "medically mandated brace"? Good -- I'd hate to think the NJN would have to file *two* suits against the AWI. {After giving Deda's ribs a good workover, he lifts Scott up to his knees, then commences with a pair of side kicks to continue the attack.} [Escobar]: I said WEIGHTED BOOT -- I feel no lack of confidence in asserting that Corey's hypothetical doctor has as much reliability as Robbie's hypothetical martial arts instructor. [Marone]: You mean they're related? Hey, does that mean Robbie's getting a family discount? [Escobar]: That's not what I -- [Swayze]: Don't argue with him, Justino -- better his illusions than your slanders. I mean, sometimes I wonder why I bother to grace you guys with my keen analytical eye ... [Marone]: 'Cuz Robbie pays you? [Swayze]: Oh yeah ... {He pulls Scott fully up to his feet, and whips him into the turnbuckle; charging after, he drives a hard kneelift into the corner.} [Escobar]: High impact rush from Corey Bonham -- Scott Deda could be in serious trouble right now! [Swayze]: Of course he is! Scott Deda was in serious trouble from the day he first entered this league -- putting himself in the same camp as that loser Ed! He made his bed -- Corey's just givin' it the quarter test, bay-bee! {Bonham bends Deda down, and grabs him for a gutwrench, but Scott counters with a palm thrust to the lower body, then grabs Corey by the head, running up the turnbuckle and hopping off in a twisting bulldog.} [Escobar]: An arrogant supposition ... but if so, I THINK DEDA PASSES! [Marone]: I don't think so, Justin -- that wasn't really a bounce so much as a lot of steps. {He cinches one of Corey's arms in a wakigatme armbar.} [Escobar]: Deda returning to a slower pace, perhaps to regain some of his own energy ... [Swayze]: Or MAYBE, just maybe, because he's desperately trying to contain the raw fury that is Robbie Steven's ultimate protege! He's GOT to keep Corey pinned down, man -- it's like wrestling a crocodile, bay-bee, he'll tear you apart the moment you let up! [Marone]: It's more like wrestling a crocodile keeper -- if you get too good, he jumps on top of you with a bunch of his buddies. {Corey pushes Deda off of him, and both men stand. Scott locks up Deda for a Russian legsweep, but Corey blocks it and shoves him forward; Deda counters with a soccer-style "bicycle kick" to the head.} [Escobar]: Bonham out, and both men up ... [Marone]: See, I saw it on Animal Planet a couple days ago. Crocs are pretty sensitive animals-- [Escobar]: Bonham counters Deda -- but Deda right back with a bicycle kick! [Marone]: --and they don't handle tranqs well. Say, has anyone tried to tranquilize one of you guys? [Swayze]: What are you TALKING about? {Deda scrambles over Corey, attempting to cinch on a lock, but Corey pokes him in the eyes. He grabs Scott around the waist, stands up, and snaps into a belly-to-belly suplex. Standing up, he delivers the "hang loose" signal, before making a waving motion with his arms and shoulders, as Deda staggers back up.} [Swayze]: Yes! Ring the bell, stick the fork, this match is over -- it's time for the S-F-V-D! {Corey leans down for a fireman's carry, but Deda knocks him down with a jumping spin kick.} [Swayze]: There's NO WAY that Sue can survive this-- hey! [Marone]: I guess there's life after death. {Deda hooks one of Corey's arms, hops onto the top rope, turns around, and leaps off; Corey grabs him in mid-air, and pulls him close to his chest, before dropping him gut-first onto one knee.} [Escobar]: Looks like Tsunami won't need to worry aboud 'surviving' the San Fernando Valley Driver, as he finds an effective counter ... he's taking to the air -- but Corey's got him snared! And right onto that knee! [Marone]: OW. [Swayze]: For once I agree with you, Miko! {Corey pulls Deda back up, and makes the "hang loose" signal again; this time, he scores with the fireman's carry brainbuster. He rolls over for a cover: 1 ... 2 ... 3!} TIME: 5:14 [Escobar]: No escape this time -- Deda may have overexerted himself in the early parts of this match. [Swayze]: Come ON, Justino, that's like teasing a dog! Don't you know how cruel it is to lead on Sue, making him think he had a CHANCE? [Marone]: Yeah ... I've never seen a Sue beat anyone ... now, take this Deda kid, on the other hand -- he'll probably kick Corey's butt if he learns from his mistakes. >>SNIPER'S NEST<< {Chad Duncan is waiting; as he begins to speak, the "Star Spangled Banner" sounds in the loudspeakers, and continues to play amidst the confused sounds of the crowd. As the song reaches its crescendo, from the back steps out Dave Hatfield, wrapped in a large American flag, with another in his right hand. He's wildly waving the flag in the air to thunderous boos. He steps onto the stage.} [Swayze]: Oh, GREAT crowd we have here tonight, REAL patriots ... bunch of flag-burning yahoos, no doubt. [Escobar]: I'm fairly certain this reaction is meant not for the flag but the man wrapped inside it. [Marone]: Yeah, seems to me they're PROTESTING a desecration of the flag. [Duncan] Dave, what-- [Hatfield] GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! Isn't it WONDERFUL to be an American citizen? [Duncan] {pauses} I ... sure-- [Hatfield] I think it's a spendid thing, to be a True American. You have more freedom that any other person on the face of this earth. You have the right to speak your mind, to state your opinion and do so openly without fear of reprisal. That's what separates the True Americans from those who aren't, the wannabe's: We know our rights, and we don't infringe on others. Karl von Nazi obviously doesn't understand that. [Escobar]: I think Dave Hatfield could stand to brush up on his Civics courses ... not to mention his local libel statutes. [Marone]: Wouldn't brushing up a statue be graffiti? Man, that'd be JUST like Dave! [Duncan] In all fairness, Mr. Hatfield, you started this by -- [Hatfield] I used my constitutional right of free speech. Just because Germany not only has a language that sounds like Klingon, but also doesn't have that right, doesn't mean I should be ATTACKED viciously because of my statements. If I wanted to be mean, I could sue Karl for what he did. But I'm a nice guy and I'll let it slide ... ONCE. Y'know, both of the Zap Brothers came on last week and said I was evil and a hatemonger and all that garbage, but what have I done to them? Nothing. Did I stop them from having their match with Eichmann? No. Did I interfere at all in that match? No. Did I interrupt Karl when he was talking? No. Did I attack him even though he was slanderous toward me? No. I know that to do that would lessen me as a person, so I gave him his right to speak. [Escobar]: A right which Karl used, I might add, to APOLOGIZE to Mr. Hatfield ... a gesture we won't likely see from him. [Hatfield] But Karl came on here and basically said he wants to fight me in the ring. Fine. I have in my hand {shows a large manila envelope, sealed} a contract between me and Karl von Eichmann for Dance Maka-- er ... Makab-- [Chad] Macabre. [Dave] Whatever. It's a German name, so these pure American lips can't pronounce it. Anyway, I have a match for the pay per view between him and I. If he wants to be an American, let him get a taste of it. It's under American Rules. [Chad] I've ... not heard of American rules. [Dave] Then obviously you're not a True American either, because any True American know what they are. I'll be handing this to the commish after I'm done here. If you have a nerve, Kraut, you'll sign it, and then you'll get your chance to fight me. This time, I punch back. {Dave leaves the stage} >>PRESS BOOTH<< [Swayze] American Rules? Did he say AMERICAN Rules??? Man, this is going to ROCK! [Escobar] I see ... and you're going to enlighten our viewers as to just what these "American rules" are? [Swayze] Hey, you heard the man -- if you don't know, you don't DESERVE to know. ================================================================= WHEN WE RETURN: A DANSE MACABRE Update! COMMERCIALS: Membership has its privileges -- the American Express card ... Even Homer Simpson is smarter, with Intel Inside ... Get all your favorite new music at Sam Goody's ... ================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 6 M E N . . . 4 R I N G S . . . 1 S U R V I V O R ----------------------------------------------------------------- _ _ __ __ | \ / | |\ |\ /_ \ /__/ Allied Wrestling ||\\ / | | \ || // \/ //_ International |||| /<> | ||\\ || \\__ | _> Presents ||// / _ | || \\|| \__\ \\__ | / / / \ | || \ | /\_// \__\ |/ \/ \| |/ \| \__/ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ __ | \ / | / \ /_ \ / \ / _\ / _\ /_ \ ||\\//|| / /\ \ // \/ / /\ \ || \\ || \\ // \/ || \/ || ||__|| || ||__|| ||_// ||_// ||_ || || | __ | || | __ | | _{ | _{ | _> || || || || || || || || \\ || \\ || || || || || \\_/\ || || ||_// || \\ \\_/\ \/ \/ \/ \/ \__/ \/ \/ \__/ \/ |/ \__/ ================================================================= W H O W I L L S T E A L T H E D E V I L ' S D E A L ? ----------------------------------------------------------------- O C T O B E R 3 0 B O S T O N, M A ================================================================= U P D A T E U P D A T E U P D A T E U P D A T E U P D A T E >>PRESS BOOTH<< [Escobar] That's right, fans, we're just a week away from what will undoubtedly become an AWI tradition in the years to come, not to mention a thrilling pay-per-view extravaganza! [Swayze] You forgot "most exciting night in wrestling history," Justino ... jeez, you need to learn some hard-sell techniques. [Escobar] A card like this doesn't really /need/ a hard-sell, Chad ... let's begin with the Danse itself, the centerpiece of this event. A cavalcade of AWI superstars enter the first of four adjacent rings, and battle it out in a no-holds-barred slugfest ... as each man gets pinned or forced to submit, the man responsible will advance to the NEXT ring -- until we have 8 competitors, then 4, then 2 weary souls -- and finally, ONE man will walk away with the Devil's Deal? And what IS the 'Deal? ANY match the wrestler wants to be involved in, with ANY stipulations, mandated and sanctioned by Commissioner Jamahn Hugo Chamberlin himself! {The bottom of the screen slowly pans across photo-portraits as Escobar continues ...} Last week, we told you about the following challengers: Robbie Stevens's dazed disciple, and master of the San Fernando Valley Driver, "WAY COOL JR." COREY BONHAM ... the demented and self-appointed judge of the AWI, D.A. BOOKTHROWER ... the devious headmaster of the Ed Carr Wrestling Academy, the WRESTLING EXPERT himself, ED CARR ... Carr's newest protege, the wild and unpredictable "TSUNAMI" SCOTT DEDA ... no-nonsense newcomer SMITH DURBIN ... definitely one of the favorites, the colossal Iron Man of the AWI, "WAR MACHINE" GREG GARDNER ... both members of the HONOR GUARD -- the powerful RICH GREENSPEAR and the masterfully scientific SAM RICHARDS ... Checkmate's Master of the Northern Lights Suplex himself, MAURICE JACKSON ... the moralizing, maniacal man of the cloth, the "RIGHT ON" REVEREND JEREMIAH JAMES ... one-half of the CHAOS BROTHERS, the kickmeister "ZAP" LONDON ... the awesome Asian acrobat, "DRAGONFIRE" KIEN LUN ... one-half of the powerhouse duo of INTENSITY, the all-out attack of JAYSON "FURY" MICHAELS ... the man for whom every day is Halloween, the enigmatic "SCARECROW", DOMINIC NIGHTSHADE ... the strongman seer of the AWI, ORACLE ... and the shamelessly scheming head of Team Stevens himself, the so-called New Jersey Ninja, ROBBIE STEVENS! [Swayze] Note how that list is bookended with favorites! If Corey doesn't bring home the gold, the Most Feared Foot In Wrestling is a LOCK to! [Escobar] Don't count your chickens yet, Chad ... there's more to come! [Swayze] Huh? Hey, there may be some things Roadhouse isn't gifted at, even if Lord knows I haven't found them yet -- but I CAN count, and that's sixteen! [Escobar] If you'll remember, last week I said AT LEAST sixteen! And not long after, the AWI received THIS ... ================================================================= {Cut to "the Awesome One" Kerry Masters in what looks like a small indoor basketball stadium. He has it set up "3 point shootout" style, and is on the last set of basketballs. One goes in ... two ... three ... four ... and the fifth bricks off WIDE to the side. Without even turning to the camera, Kerry begins to address it.} [The Awesome One] {sigh} That's what I get for trying to do this in one take. Of course ... doing it in one take is what it's all about. You COULD keep shooting that opening over and over again, until I sank all five ... but that isn't really a challenge. The challenge ... what the best will do ... is actually go out there and take on challenges other people won't. You know ... since I first came to the AWI, people have called me arrogant. Egotistical. Boastful. Well, the Ratings Stalagmite of the AWI may be a little confident at times ... but there's a reason for it. Since walking in, I've become one of the best the AWI has to offer ... from challenging a seemingly unbeatable War Machine ... to setting up the first Schedule, so that EVERYONE that wanted to shut me up got a chance to get some ... I was cocky, and I was arrogant ... but I was on my way to becoming the best. So now, I have to play "top this". If I'm going to say that I'm the best ... and I will say, quite often, that I'm the best ... I have to set up another challenge that only The Awesome One would be stupi-- umm ... oops, little slip there... would have the testicular manhood to go after. Step One -- Joe Walker. Danse Overture. TV Title Match. Now ... this should be the match I brag and boast about, since ... well, Joe ... you beat ROBBIE, who isn't exactly the toughest redwood to knock down. {stops and thinks for a minute} Actually, maybe I'm downplaying that accomplishment. You managed to catch Robbie and make him wrestle a match, which is more than most AWI superstars have apparently been able to do. The bottom line is that we have a date for Danse Overture ... and I get to take on one of the best that the AWI has to offer, and beat him before Jealous Joey and pals get a chance to get the match thrown out. Outsmart Joey, which is not tough, and simultaneously beat Joe, which is very, VERY tough. Step Two -- Danse Macabre. Jerry Straite and the Awesome One take out Agony & Ecstacy. Joey ... Tank ... Robbie ... why don't you keep ignoring Jerry. I HOPE you do. Because the Straite-Man kicked all of your asses last week on TV near singlehandedly, so it won't be a thing for us to do it together at the PPV. But you know ... that isn't challenge enough. I need one more ... crazy ... stupid ... thing to make sure everyone knows that Kerry Masters is the bar by which the AWI is measured. {stops and thinks again} Hey. I like that. "The Bar By Which The AWI Is Measured". Gotta add that to the list. One more thing. What could I do? ... Okay. Step Three. The Man the People Paid To See is announcing himself to be the SEVENTEENTH man in the Danse Macabre. You can't have tremendous victories without tremendous challenges. At Danse Macabre, the Epitome Of What Everyone Wants To Be is going to have a tremendous victory. ================================================================= [Swayze] WHAT?! I mean, I knew he was stupid, going up against the Walking Weapon of Mass Destruction AND the Living Fashion Plate, but to wrestle in the Danse, too? He's CRAZY! [Escobar] Nevertheless, Kerry Masters is vying for the Devil's Deal as well! [Marone] Whoa, man ... seventeen dudes at once-- [Escobar] EIGHTEEN, Mike ... the AWI has pulled out a special surprise competitor out of its magic hat in addition ... fans, just watch this footage, and hold on to your seats ... ================================================================= : Footage courtesey of Universal Superstars of Wrestling USeW Light Heavyweight Tourney {Those who remember Spring Stampede might recognize the Comanche War Dog, jumping off the top with a double axhandle at his opponent, who ducks it and puts the 'Dog through multiple arm- wringers, then levels him with an enziguri ... he covers for a 2-count, whips the Dog into the ropes, and catches him after a criss-cross with a textbook 'rana for a pinfall ...} : USeW TV Title Match {Now the man's facing the same El Maestro that fought "Devastating" Dan Lea at Union II ... he blocks Maestro's offensive with a European uppercut, then hits another 'rana ... this time, he heads up to the top, and summons up a phenomenally high-altitude shooting-star press, as the referee counts the three ...} : Grudge Match Return Bout {The man's back in action against Comanche War Dog, taking a boot to the back of the head, then getting whipped into the corner hard enough to flip over it ... War Dog hooks him up in the corner for a "Tree of Woe" style turnbuckle-splash, but the man somehow pulls himself over the top and out of the way, and War Dog eats the turnbuckle himself ... as he crashes to the mat, the man climbs to the top, and comes off with a flying leg drop, hooking War Dog's legs and once again getting the victory ... ================================================================= [Marone] I know that guy! At least, I think I know that guy! I think his dad or uncle or something used to beat me up in the ring! [Escobar] It's very possible, as he has a VERY impressive pedigree -- but as you've seen, a very impressive RECORD as well ... meet Mr. Eighteen in the Danse Macabre, ladies and gentleman: USeW sensation "WILDFIRE" JOHNNY RAGE! [Swayze] I KNEW it! I KNEW the AWI would have something up their grimy sleeves! This is nothing less than a full-fledged CONSPIRACY against Team Stevens! Bad enough those Carr losers have THREE guys in the Danse, but now we have to scout some psycho from a whole other promotion?! [Escobar] I doubt he was signed with your cronies in mind, Chad ... now, that's enough wrestling excitement to fill ANY night -- but not for the AWI! We also have not one, not two, but THREE grueling matches featuring PERFECTION against JOE WALKER and STEVE THE INSANE, who are as always LOOKING 4 A FIGHT! In Perfection's selected match, Joe and Steve don the gloves in a BOXERS VS. WRESTLERS bout! The next match, Looking 4 A Fight turns the tables-- [Marone] And chairs, doors, railings, the concession stand, just about anything else, really-- [Escobar] --in a NO DISQUALIFICATION, FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE match! And the third match ... the third match is a special SURPRISE match to be revealed at the Danse itself, and selected by a special hotline poll of YOU, the fans! [Swayze] Which means it'll probably be stupid, and incredibly biased -- just like you people! {The splitscreen graphic changes to show Jerry Straite and Kerry Masters on the right side, and a typically smug Toshiaki Hasegawa and intense Tank Bradley on the left, both holding their North American Tag Team belts.} [Escobar] As you've been reminded already, we ALSO have North American Champion JERRY STRAITE, and self-described Ratings Stalagmite, the "AWESOME ONE" KERRY MASTERS, taking on the North American tag team champions AGONY & ECSTASY, in a title match that has already generated SEVERE bad blood! [Swayze] What do you mean? There's plenty of good blood ... and it's all inside Jeckyl & Keckyl, just waitin' to be spilled! [Escobar] You've heard tonight of DAVE HATFIELD's challenge to KARL VON EICHMANN ... we've received word that Karl has in fact SIGNED that match ... and you won't BELIEVE what these so-called "AMERICAN RULES" are! [Marone] It would help if Dave would've TOLD us. [Escobar] And last, but certainly not least, a WORLD TITLE MATCH! The quiet but quarrelsome champion of the AWI, KEN MISCHIEF, will take on the finest force for good the AWI has to offer, the never-say-die determination of JUSTICE! And remember, this match was engineered, almost by accident, by Justice's most thorny problem of late, the diabolical Rev. Jeremiah James, so you can be sure he'll have a hand in the events that ensue SOMEHOW ... Fenway Park, October 30! If you're one of the lucky few with tickets to this earthshaking event, bring a friend, bring a sweater, and bring your Visa -- and be prepared to be ASTONISHED! {The Danse Macabre graphic appears again, with the "16" burning itself into an "18", before the whole fades away back into our announcing crew once more.} [Escobar] We're heading to the lockers, now, where we apparently have comments from one of tonight's falls-count anywhere competitors, Steve the Insane ... ================================================================= {Steve the Insane is wearing a black and blue marbled singlet and has a dead-serious expression on his face. He's standing over a toy AWI wrestling ring, coincidentally filled with the latest in AWI action figures. Not changing his expression, he grabs a handful of the figures and rips both arms off of every one of them.} ================================================================= [Swayze] What the hell was THAT? [Marone] Maybe we got the wrong locker room. Kinda looked like Mike Kirwan. [Escobar] I, that is -- perhaps we'll go back later for an explanation, but we've got Paul Stone ready with a guest ... >>SNIPER'S NEST<< [Paul Stone] Ladies and gentlemen ... I give you ... MADELINE FREECHILD!!! {"Big Bad Lady" by the Lady Of Rage keys up, as Madeline Freechild makes her way to the Sniper's Nest. Once there, she grabs the microphone out of Paul Stone's hands, and begins heading toward the ring, talking along the way.} [Paul Stone] Hey, I-- {less audible} I ought to expect this ... [Madeline Freechild] Two weeks ago, I came out here, and I said that we'd have the final talk between myself, Dacia Blackthorne, and Angela Dante LAST week. Now, I've had some personal things go on for me back in New Orleans, so I couldn't be here last week. Now, from what I saw on TV ... Dacia took the time to run down some people -- some good, some bad. And apparently the Woman In Red decided to shut her up. {Gets to ringside, climbs on the apron, and steps through the ropes.} Now, I know some people won't believe me when I say that I was in New Orleans on personal business. Some people ... particularly Ms. Dacia Blackthorne and Ms. Angela Dante ... would want to, at best, accuse me, and at worst take me out ... for something I didn't do. Now, I'm not going to go into why I didn't come to Line Of Fire last week. Personal business stays personal. So Dacia ... Angie ... you want to come and accuse me ... come on down. You want to come and attack me ... well ... hope you're in the mood to take your lumps. {She drops the microphone, and looks expectedly down the aisle-- only to have somebody emerge from the crowd on the other side.} [Escobar]: Oh, no -- LOOK OUT -- it's Dacia Blackthorne! She's got a chair, and she's just gone POSTAL on Madeline! [Swayze]: YE-HESS! Now THIS is what I call a DISCUSSION! [Marone]: Your home life musta been really screwed up ... [Escobar]: This is awful -- wait, here comes -- it's Brenda Storm! She's kicked the chair away -- but Dacia is equally willing to lay into her with barehanded blows! Now Angela Dante's out as well ... and Dacia decided discretion is the better part of valor ... [Swayze]: Hey, her job is done -- Madeline's brains are so much bran-muffin right now! [Escobar]: It may be questionable whether Freechild can even make her next match, at this point ... we'll be back after this ... ================================================================= WHEN AWI LINE OF FIRE RETURNS: The new kid vs. the Child's Play! COMMERCIAL BREAK: They shoot! They roar! They destroy Tokyo again and again! The Gamera collection, from Trendmaster Toys ... Bruce Willis vs. a multiton planetoid? No contest -- see ARMAGEDDON, now on home video ... Use Sudafed, and avoid Medicinehead ... ================================================================= {The camera opens on a stereo speaker playing "Wild Thing" by the Troggs. The camera then pulls back to reveal a living room with the stereo, TV, VCR, a couple of chairs, and a couch. On the couch sits Kanaida Sharpe, dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and a black leather jacket.} [Sharpe] Danse Overture. I've been running those words in my head ever since it was announced my premiere was on that card. Danse Overture. The women's Danse is then, Joe Walker defends his title against "the Awesome One" Kerry Masters, and I take a step to my dreams. That's right. I won't lie. I dream of the belt. I dream of having the fans, the Wild Pack they are, along with me. After all, that's what it's all about, the belts, and the fans. I want to hear them happy after I wrestle. I wanna hear them cheer when I win. I want to give them something to cheer about. 'Course I know there are a few guys I gotta go through first. So, line up guys. I want you all when I can get you. Any time, any place. The Wild Thing has an open contract, always! So get ready, 'cause the AWI is about to get wild. One other thing. There are 2 people out there who have welcomed me to the league and I want to thank them. Colt Kawaii, you go out there and win the belt. If you do, celebration's on me. And Karl Von Eichmann, you take care of Hatfield, OK? And if you need me, I'm there for you -- any time, any place. So that's it, people. The Wild Thing's coming, and you better be ready. Danse Overture. Till then, Catch you on the Wild Side. ================================================================= <> [Rod Allen] Our next contest is set for one fall, with a time limit of ten minutes ... introducing first, weighing in at ninety-eight pounds, from the city of Osaka, Japan ... COLT KAWAII!!! {Colt enters the aisle to the trumpety strains of "Deep in the Heart of Texas", and the fans offer up a nice cheer. She returns the favor with a pair of popguns, snapping off two 'bangs' in the air as she steps out of the back. She mugs for the camera a bit, puffing some smoke off the barreltip and giving the camera an exaggerated wink, then spins her toy pistol and holsters it in one smooth motion.} [Swayze]: Did I oversleep during the commercial, and miss Christmas? We seem to have an action figure at ringside. {Colt bounces down the aisle, slapping hands with fans on the way, being, in general, as perky as perky can be; she hops up to the top turnbuckle, cups her hands, and gives off a big (well, for her) yee-haw, and many fans reply in kind.} [Escobar]: Colt Kawaii is not the powerhouse that many of her opponents have shown themselves to be, including even the woman she faces tonight -- but there may be no other competitor in our sport with a HEART as big as hers! [Swayze]: Ooh, good for her -- what, is she gonna take it out and club someone with it? I'll take Freechild's bigger arms, bigger legs, and bigger name something any day over this toy poodle. [Marone]: Keep that up, and I'll sic MY poodle on you. [Swayze]: WHAT? Oh, ANYTHING but THAT ... not a POODLE! {snicker} [Escobar]: YOU have a poodle? [Marone]: Yeah ... well, kinda ... I mean, he seemed kinda like a poodle when I got him, all fuzzy and stuff ... I s'spose he's not really a pure-- well, he's more of a, what'd they say ... wolfhound, yeah, that's what it was. Jaws is a wolfhound. [Swayze]: JAWS?! [Marone]: He's cute. You'll like him. {Colt grins, hopping down and back into the ring, stripping her accessories off and testing the ropes, as Rod continues his introductions.} [Allen] And her opponent tonight, weighing in at one hundred sixty-five pounds ... from the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, this is MADELINE FREEEEEECHILD!!! {"Big Bad Lady" by Lady of Rage revs up on the speakers, as Madeline comes down the aisle, perhaps slowed down by the recent attack but still looking VERY determined. She receives a mixed reaction from the crowd -- plenty of cheers and a few sympathetic hands stretched over the railing, but more than one face in the crowd isn't sure what to make of her.} [Escobar]: The Material Girl showing a little more than *physical* strength tonight, considering the brutal and completely uncalled for attack by Dacia Blackthorne! [Swayze]: Hey-hey-hey, Justino, let's not exaggerate here ... OK, the LAST two shots were uncalled for -- but the first two were justifiable payback, given the TWO Child's Plays Dacia had to suffer through already! [Escobar]: There is NO evidence that ANY of the abuse Blackthorne has received recently was actually Madeline's doing ... in fact, she has repeatedly stated that she was simply not present in the building during ANY of those attacks -- a statement which I doubt you've even bothered to investigate before condemning her. [Swayze]: CONDEMNING her? Hey, I WANT her to keep up the good work! Watching Dacia bounce off those shoulders like a helpless ragdoll is worth the price of admission by itself, bay-bee! I just wish Maddie would own up to her masterpieces! [Marone]: I didn't even know she painted. {Madeline starts the match with a belly-to-belly, but Colt's agility allows her to flip out, and catch Freechild in an armdrag takedown.} [Escobar]: {sigh} We're ready to start the match ... and Madeline is DEFINITELY ready, as-- what a counter! [Marone]: Man, right now Maddie looks like she's replaying that in her head right now, trying to figure out how SHE ended up on the floor. {The two reach their feet again, and lock up in a collar/elbow, resulting in another Colt armdrag; a second collar/elbow brings a standing dropkick from Colt.} [Escobar]: Colt Kawaii shows no anxiety at all about locking up with Madeline despite her obvious strength advantage -- and she's certainly showing she can hold her own in a clinch! {A side kick attempt, however, is avoided, and Freechild catches Colt in a full nelson, then powers Kawaii into a dragon suplex.} [Swayze]: *A* clinch ... not *that* clinch, though ... {Freechild continues her assault with a grounded full nelson.} [Escobar]: Since her return, Madeline's shown more of a focus on this slow submission approach, contrasted to her pure muscle style of old ... and one must admit, it may prove a good idea to trim some of Colt's boundless energy as soon as possible, wearing her down with vise-like grips such as this ... {When Kawaii breaks out, Madeline slaps at her, then locks a half-nelson on and turns it into a half-nelson suplex.} [Swayze]: Now THAT is a primo sis dis, bay-bee! Slap across the chops, and then toss her around like before, but ONE-HANDED! {Kawaii gains a momentary advantage with an armbar, but loses it when she misses a legdrop.} [Escobar]: I think you may be reading a bit much into her offense ... Colt recovers nicely from the suplex, keeping a hold on Madeline's arm -- but Madeline prevents her from capitalizing on it! [Swayze]: Only thing I'm reading is the future, Justino-- and as I look into my crystal ball, I see Madeline FINALLY blossoming into the dominating wrestler she always could be! And let me tell you, that flower's color is RED! {Freechild picks her up and drops her with a backbreaker, then locks on a bearhug ... Kawaii slips out, and stops Madeline's advance with a karate chop, but Freechild drives a short-arm palm thrust into Colt's chin, and locks on a wakigatme armbar.} [Escobar]: Quick exchange of tactics between these two women ... and Freechild wins this round, taking Colt to the mat again ... [Marone]: I hate to pick on her or somethin', but Colt lately seems to be having problems with the girls that have been to Japan -- it's like she wasn't expecting them to expect her, y'know? {Freechild hoists Kawaii up in a Canadian backbreaker, and moves to drop her into a powerbomb, but Colt reverses it into a rana.} [Escobar]: Freechild moving her target inwards, as she locks up Colt in a single shoulder rack ... she shifts position, ready to send Colt-- NADA! [Marone]: YES! Uh, not that I want to see Maddie lose or anything. [Swayze]: BUSTED! Hand in your journalist card, buddy! [Marone]: I don't have one. Do they give those out? [Escobar]: Don't worry about it. {Colt gets up, hops on the top rope, and springs off for a bodypress.} [Escobar]: Colt surprised Madeline with that hurricarana -- and now she takes down Maddie for a cover! One-- and that's all she's going to get ... {Freechild scoops Colt on her shoulders as the two get up, and stands up to complete an Argentinian backbreaker.} [Escobar]: Colt-- Maddie's got Colt in the Child's Play! She-- no, Colt kicks a leg free, and rolls back down to the mat! [Marone]: There's that heart you were talkin' about, Justin. A lot of wrestlers wouldn't have been able to get out of the Child's Play like that. [Swayze]: And a lot MORE, like our own Swedish Sweetheart, wouldn't get put into it in the FIRST place! {Colt escapes, but Maddie turns around and grabs her head, then throws her into a cradle suplex.} [Escobar]: Kawaii is free, but Maddie seems quicker on the draw -- and she's got a pinning predicament! No count ... {Freechild stands up, and slaps Kawaii into a Boston crab.} [Escobar]: Maddie is on Colt Kawaii like a BULLDOG -- she's not going to give this young woman ANY chance to recollect her senses! [Swayze]: Earth to square -- this is a GOOD IDEA! Everyone knows by now that Colt's a one trick pony -- if she can't run or jump, she's glue! {Madeline drops the hold, and pulls Colt back up, lifting her back into the Argentinian backbreaker.} [Escobar]: And Colt's put right back into the Child's Play for a second time! [Marone]: {halfway murmuring} Come on, girl, you did this before ... you can deal with this ... come on ... [Escobar]: The pain is evident on Colt Kawaii's face as she struggles in the grip of what might very well be the most painful hold in women's wrestling! [Swayze]: Oh, it's pretty good -- but it's not the Hammerlock of Thor! Remember, even Freechild submitted to THAT ... [Escobar]: But Colt Kawaii is *not* submitting ... she just won't give up, even if she can't get out-- [Swayze]: Oh, you're breakin' my heart, Justin ... so she's a masochist! A girl comes out dressed -- HALF dressed, I might say -- like a cowboy when she's probably never even seen a real cow, you know she's got issues. [Marone]: {growling} YOU'RE going to have internal bleeding in a moment ... [Escobar]: {soto voce} Please, you two ... {louder} Madeline looks frustrated ... she's just about hopping in the ring, pulling harder on that hold ... and it's finally too much! Colt Kawaii is throwing in the towel! [Marone]: {BEEP} ... I thought she was going to make it. Jeez, Maddie did seem kinda brutal there. {Madeline lets Colt down, dropping to her knees herself for a breather, as Rod Allen steps back into the ring.} TIME: 6:40 [Allen] Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this match, by submission ... MADELINE FREECHILD!!! >>PRESS BOOTH<< [Marone] Man, and the day started so well ... {to the camera} chin up, Colt! You'll get her next time! [Swayze] After that? She just spent more time in the Child's Play in ONE GO than Dacia has this whole year! That's the proportional equivalent of leaving one of those new Volkswagons in a junk crusher for your lunch break! How cute is it then, huh? [Escobar] I think you may sell her short, Chad -- Colt Kawaii's resilience may equal her agility ... no doubt this is not the end of her rise here in Allied Wrestling. But for now, we're ready to get some words with someone already unquestionably at the TOP of Allied Wrestling ... let's go to OUR Chad, in the Sniper's Nest! >>SNIPER'S NEST<< [Chad Duncan] Ladies and gentlemen, it IS my pleasure to introduce to you, at this time, Allied Wrestling International's NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION ... please welcome, JEEERRRYYY STRRRAAAIIITE! {"Here on Earth" by the Crash Test Dummies kicks up, and the crowd bursts into cheers, as Jerry makes his way into the arena, dressed casually in a Pan-Am Games '99 sweater and jeans, with the title belt wrapped around his waist. He makes his way to the Nest, and salutes the cheering fans.} [Duncan] Jerry, we saw at the top of the show the end of your match with Toshiaki Hasegawa, which ended up outside the ring. How are you feeling about what happened now? [Jerry Straite] Well, now, Chad, I'm thinking now that I've had a bit to cool off that *maybe* I overreacted just a weeeee bit. But, y'know, I don't think anybody's going to be forgetting to pay attention to me for a little bit, no matter what Kerry figures, will they? [Duncan] One would think ... though apparently, that doesn't include Hasegawa himself. I sort of doubt it. [Straite] {cocks his head thoughtfully} Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since I drove someone's head through a chair. And dammit, I missed it ... it's been too long. I want to do it again. Several times. {Chad starts to look a little nervous, as Jerry looks back at him.} [Straite] Don't worry; I might be the only one in the promotion who won't, but I don't beat up commentators. But for right now, that's neither here nor there. I can't pull that stunt *too* often. The championship commitee might not be very impressed with me if I do. But dammit, wasn't it *FUN*?!? {He looks out to the crowd, who reacts with positive gusto.} [Duncan] So we can't expect the same kind of action in the match at Danse Macabre, then? [Straite] {with a feral grin} I was talking about *my* title matches, Chad. All I gotta do for the Danse match is make sure I ain't caught doing it! [Duncan] Ah! Well ... ummm ... do you have any comments about your new partner Kerry Masters's intention to wrestle *both* the tag title match *and* the Danse Macabre event itself? [Straite] Well, it shouldn't really matter to me, because our match is before that. On the other hand, I was listenin' to Kerry announce that, and it kinda got me interested. I mean, that Devil's Deal is a heck of a temptation, don't ya think? What kind of a mess could someone make with that contract in his back pocket, I wonder? So Kerry, always pay attention to whose around when you're talkin' about challenges that no one else's willing to take on ... just on the off chance that someone else will. [Duncan] {pausing, with a surprised expression} Jerry ... are you saying what I think you're saying? [Straite] I hope so, 'cause I'd hate to think what else I might mean. To make it perfectly clear to everyone: Jerry Straite is throwing his hat into Danse Macabre, and what's more, Mama Straite's favourite boy intends to steal the DEVIL'S DEAL!! {With that, Straite raises his arms in salute to the crowd, and heads back to the back, shaking hands the whole way.} [Swayze]: NINETEEN guys?!?! The AWI's gotta stop this before it gets outta hand! This is crazy!! [Escobar]: This is definitely a surprising turn of events-- [Marone]: Not to mention confusing. What happens when 8 guys make it to the second ring? Can 9 guys advance now? Or are the others just S-O-L? [Escobar]: That'll be a matter for the league to address, which I'm sure they will before the 30th. >>RING<< [Rod Allen] Our next contest, ladies and gentlemen, is set for one fall, with a time limit of ten minutes ... introducing first, weighing in at two hundred sixty-nine pounds ... from Sweetwater, Texas, he is JACK ROBERTSON! {"Back in Black" by AC/DC kicks in on the speakers, as Jack Robertson marches down to the ring with a determined expression, hailed with a fair amount of cheering.} [Rod Allen] And his opponent tonight ... weighing in at two-hundred fifty-eight pounds ... from Salem, Massachussetts, the Reverend JEREMIAH JAMES! {The lights in the arena go out, except for a singular spotlight at the entrance; the fans begin booing almost before Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus (For Unto Us A Child Is Born)" begins playing. Reverend James steps into the light, head bowed and arms raised overhead, and begins walking down to the ring; as he climbs up the step and enters, the light expands into a Celtic cross pattern which slowly rotates around James as he begins to speak.} [Reverend James] Jack Robertson ... once before hast thou met the Reverend Jeremiah James in this ring of rope and steel, and on that occasion did thou recieve thy due sermon for the LORD ... and it would have seemed the lesson was received with faith and joy, for since that day, thou did return to thy home with a heavy heart, ready to abandon this unholy path. But nay, wisdom knocks at thy door but thou dost not hear ... and so ill fortune and tribulations shall befall thee once more. Hear this and know, oh Jack Robertson, that the LORD is wroth with thee, who had been offered salvation once before and turned away. Thy sermon tonight will not be so gentle. Such is the will of the LORD ... Amen. {He drops the mike, and the pair lock up in a collar-elbow tieup. Reverend James gets the early advantage, and presses it with a pair of sharp forearm uppercuts, followed by a double axehandle smash.} [Marone]: You know, every time I watch this guy, I go home and flip through the ol' family holy book ... and I don't recognize ANY of the stuff he's saying. [Swayze]: Sure that's a James bible? {He whips Jack into the ropes, and Jack leapfrogs over him off the rebound; as Jack returns from the second bounce, James clotheslines him.} [Marone]: Well, yeah, actually, I think it is a King James version ... got it from my grandma and-- [Swayze]: Nonono, REVEREND James version -- King James is TOTALLY bogus. Like, how much does a KING know about God? Trust the Rev, bay-bee! {James pulls Jack up to a kneeling position, but Robertson uses a single-leg takedown to floor him, the slaps on a headlock. James twists free, and both men stand; Jack gets the jump on James, literally, with a dropkick.} [Escobar]: The Reverend's control of this match is beginning to slip, as Jack Robertson begins to show some impressive technical defense -- perhaps this is the benefit of Ed Carr's training ... [Swayze]: No ... if this was CARR training, Jack would have to stop now and cough up another buck twenty-five. {James staggers up to his feet, and Jack brings him down with a drop toehold. He keeps a grip on the leg, and moves into a spinning toehold.} [Escobar]: The Reverend seems dumbfounded by Jack's renewed offense -- no doubt, he was walking into this match with the overconfidence of believing he'd face the Jack Robertson of several months ago ... we are DEFINITELY seeing a new and improved JR now! [Swayze]: Yeah, THIS JR gets ignored by his enemies TWICE as well as the old version! {James breaks free of the lock; Jack lets him stand up, and scoops him for a bodyslam.} [Escobar]: NOBODY is ignoring THAT! Jack Robertson makes the mat shake with a big bodyslam! [Marone]: Apparently the Rev. James version of the Bible isn't real thick on counters. {Jack drags James back up, but the Reverend kicks him in the midsection, then grabs his wrist and delivers a short-arm elbowsmash; keeping hold of the arm, he pulls Jack up and repeats the move.} [Swayze]: Uh-oh, Jack ... you made him MAD ... I mean, MORE mad than he was already, cuz he seemed pretty {beep}ed at you to begin with ... [Escobar]: Chad! {He tries to repeat it again, but Jack reverses into an irish whip; he charges after the Reverend, connecting with a hard clothesline.} [Escobar]: NADA! Once to the well too often for Reverend James ... and Jack Robertson nearly takes off Jeremiah's head with that lariat! [Marone]: Lucky he has that collar to hold it on, huh? {Jack climbs up the corner and begins raining punches down on Jeremiah's head; James retaliates by throwing Jack over his shoulder and out of the ring.} [Escobar]: Jack Robertson is on fire now, driving fists repeatedly into James' forehead -- no! [Swayze]: You mean, Jack Robertson is on THE FLOOR now! [Marone]: I'm beginning to think one of his commandments is "Thou shalt not stay inside the ropes." {James hops out of the ring, and whips Jack into the post.} [Swayze]: You said a mouthful, Miko -- This is like James's private temple, and this Texan lump is gonna be a sacrificial bull pretty soon! {He charges in after with a clothesline, but Jack moves aside and James hits the post. Jack grabs his head and delivers a DDT, then rolls back into the ring.} [Escobar]: James continuing his brutal-- JACK'S OUT OF THE WAY! And a DDT RIGHT INTO THE FLOOR!!! Jack rolls back inside ... and Reverend James does NOT make the count! Referee Tom Newman is calling for the bell! TIME: 2:55 [Allen] Your winner, as a result of a countout ... JACK ROBERTS-- [Escobar]: MADRE DIOS! Reverend James is ALL OVER Robertson, as Rod Allen scrambles for cover! An elbow smash, and a BIG atomic drop -- and he floors Robertson with a clothesline! [Swayze]: That's what Jack gets for trying to get a cheap win like that! [Escobar]: What are you TALKING about!? JAMES was the one who took it outside in the first place! [Swayze]: Ex-ACTLY! Robertson's defying the good book by getting back in the ring before the Reverend was good and ready! [Escobar]: The Reverend heading off before Jack's friends can show up, but the damage has been done ... but the one thing James can't take away from Robertson -- he's even the record against the Right-On Reverend! [Marone]: And already shown more class than his brother. [Escobar]: Perhaps ... I think it's time to head back to the lockers, and see if we can get an explanation out of Steve the Insane ... [Swayze]: Uh, look, he seems sorta busy, I don't think we-- ================================================================= {Steve the Insane is now sitting on a bench in front of a TV and VCR. He's wearing a Team Stevens baseball jersey, an announcers' headset, and has the toy wrestling ring now duct-taped to his back. He also has a fairly clueless expression on his face. While the camera can't quite pick up his comments, Steve is quite animated in describing the match on the TV.} ================================================================= >>PRESS BOOTH<< [Marone] Hey, y'know -- [Swayze] Don't even -- look, this guy is WIERDING me OUT, man ... why do we have to keep going BACK there, huh? [Marone] Double vision ... that kinda looked like YOU ... [Swayze] It did NOT! Escobo, don't we have a match to call? An interview to see? Products to hock? Come ON, man, throw me a bone! [Escobar] Uh ... well ... fans, we'll be back after these messages ... ================================================================= WHEN LINE OF FIRE RETURNS: The Scarecrow goes Insane! COMMERCIALS: Overacted scenes, painfully hip teens, and Tommy Jeans -- THE FACULTY, now in theatres ... YourWare -- Gateway does for computers what Burger King does for sandwiches ... Robots + Roleplaying = XENOGEARS, for the Sony Playstation ... ================================================================= {Back in the locker room, on a close-up of the toy ring. Suddenly "Gett Off" by Prince and the NPG can be heard, signalling the arrival of ... a wrestling boot. The camera pans up the boot to reveal Steve the Insane; upon reaching "ringside" and entering the camera's view, he stops and does a double bicep pose as dime-store sparklers go off behind him. Steve then turns to a mirror positioned next to the toy ring, and does various bodybuilder-esque poses as he begins to talk.} [Steve the Insane] I'm The True Trend Setter and Fine Girl Getter ... I'm The Ratings Stalagmite ... I'm The Man the People Pay to See ... I'm All That and a Side of Fries ... I'm smart, I'm funny, and gosh darn it, people like me ... I'm Gumby damn it ... {At this point, Paul Stone enters the camera view.} [Paul Stone] Hey, folks, your friendly neighborhood special assignment reporter here ... hey, Steve, just what's the deal here? [Steve] Hrmm? {turning from the mirror} Oh, it's simple -- Dominic likes to play dress-up, play Halloween, so I figured I'd do the same. Scarecrows are kinda passe' though, so I figured I'd try a few different costumes out. I mean, I'm an easy-going kinda guy ... if Dominic wants to play, I can play too. [Paul] Um ... Steve, I wouldn't describe what Dominic Nightshade does *playing*. {soto voce} Believe me, I would know. {aloud} I mean, you yourself ASKED to make this a total no holds barred event -- don't you think you ought to take this a LITTLE seriously? [Steve] {becoming thoughtful} Actually, I'm taking this totally seriously. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Nightshade is a rather disturbed human being. I've seen it in tapes of his matches before he came to the AWI. I saw it in his treatment of you. I saw it when he hit my tag team partner upside the head with a board. Now, I dunno if it's cause Nightshade is just a mean person at heart and is trying to play mind games with everyone, or if he had a bad childhood, or if his puppy died and he's just upset about that, or what. Quite frankly -- I don't care. See, {chuckles} I kinda know all about bad childhoods and being "disturbed". I don't go around randomly beating on people, scaring people, or stuff like that. I try to laugh at situations if at all possible, and make other folks laugh as well -- but Dominic, don't you worry, I won't be laughing come match time, and neither will you. You aren't worth the effort or energy for repeated beatings, so I'm gonna get it /ALL/ outta my system this one time. You wanna play mind games, Nightshade, take your best shot -- in my lifetime, I've been messed over by some of the best; I don't scare easily. You should be scared Dominic -- very scared. And, Perfection -- don't think I've forgotten about my Danse partners, either. Pay close attention this week, 'cause this is what you're in for. {pauses in thought} Hey ... now that would work. Uh, Angela, honey ... ================================================================= [Swayze] NOW what's that nutcase got in mind? [Marone] Maybe he'll be Joe -- /he/ beat Dominic, after all. >>RING<< [Rod Allen] Ladies and gentlemen, the next bout is set for one fall ... it is a NO HOLDS BARRED match -- no disqualifications, no time limit, and falls count anywhere in this arena! Introducing first, weighing in at two-hundred seventy-two pounds, from Sleepy Hollow, Virginia ... {Mussogorsky's stirring and eerie "Night on Bald Mountain" fills the arena, and the crowds begin a low boo.} [Rod Allen] ... the SCARECROW ... Dominic Nightshade!!! And his opponent tonight, weighing in at two hundred seventy-two pounds ... accompanied to the ring tonight by his manager, Angela Dante, and his tag team partner, Joe Walker ... hailing from the Yappian Institute for the Reality Impaired, this IS ... Doctor STEVE THE INSANE!!! {The crowd goes insane even before Rod's finished talking; Robert Plant's scream heralds the opening of "The Immigrant's Song", as Steve and his cohorts appear at the aisle entrance ... Steve is wearing a leotard, cloak, furry boots, and a pointy metal Viking helmet; he carries a steel chair, with stickers slapped on it apparently to advertise Denny's, Chick-fil-A, Coors Light, and Kay-Bee Toys. Angela is wearing a "Poison" t-shirt, cut just above the midriff, and long jean shorts. She's also carrying a length of chain, attached to Steve's collar. Joe follows the pair in a tuxedo, carrying a remote control -- in front of him, a toy tank rolls along, with a red-haired wig glued to the top of it. As they get halfway down the aisle, the PA switches with an audible "record scratch" to Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries".} [Swayze]: This -- I -- what does that lunatic think he's doing!!! [Escobar]: {chuckling} It would seem that Halloween comes a few weeks early for the AWI -- and Team Steve-ens, so to speak, is getting into the trick or treat spirit! [Swayze]: Oh, MAN, this is ... I'm going on strike! {Steve passes by the ringside camera, singing along with the music: "Kill the scawecwow, kill the scawecwow ..." He then cuts himself off with a "Huss" before hopping onto the ring apron. Angela climbs up the steps, and unhooks the chain from his collar; she trades the chain for Steve's chair, walking back down the steps as he enters the ring.} [Rod Allen] Your referee for this match is Tom Newman. [Marone]: Heh -- I think your referee for this match is getting a vacation. [Swayze]: You know, these three losers don't know what they're dealing with! Robbie's a powerful man! [Marone]: Yeah, but Robbie never looked so good in that t-shirt. [Escobar]: Weren't you going on strike? [Swayze]: Hey, have you /heard/ any keen analysis from me since I started the picket? [Marone]: Wow! How long /have/ you been on strike? {Steve opens by whipping Dominic into the ropes, and charging directly after him, clotheslining him over the top from behind. Hanging the chain over his neck, he rolls outside to join Nightshade, and starts hammering him with a series of headbutts; after this, he grabs Dominic and whips him into the railing further down the aisle.} [Escobar]: Steve the Insane is not waiting a MOMENT before making this the kind of punishing match he seems to be craving! We're barely into the first minute of the match, and he's already taken this into an outside brawl! [Swayze]: This isn't wrestling, this is just plain sick! Somebody should ban that lunatic from the ring! [Marone]: Wouldn't help -- they're not IN the ring anymore. {Steve rushes into a hopping boot kick, but Dominic sidesteps it; he grabs Steve by the head from behind, and begins smashing him into the railing. Dominic moves over to his wheelbarrow, and pushes it hard into Steve; Steve moves aside, only to get caught in a chokehold.} [Escobar]: Something of a fake by Dominic, and he catches Steve off his guard ... [Swayze]: Not really surprising -- anybody stupid enough to think he can fool this crowd with those dumb disguises would fall for anything. [Marone]: Gee, that almost sounded like analysis. Are you off strike? [Swayze]: Not a chance, Miko! [Escobar]: See, it wasn't really /keen/, Mike. {Steve punches free of the hold, and then uses the chain he's carrying to choke Dominic. After a few seconds, he shoves Dominic over the railing, falling downwards on the opposite side to add pressure to the choke.} [Swayze]: (beep)DAMN, Justin -- this is in-HU-man! This isn't a match, it's an ASSASSINATION! [Marone]: Wouldn't Dominic have to hold an office for that? [Escobar]: This IS remarkably brutal, Chad -- but I doubt Dominic had any illusions as to the extremes Steve is capable of, nor is he the kind to hold back from retaliating ... [Marone]: You know, *I* don't have an office ... and I have a desk job and everything ... something's wrong there ... {Dominic manages to reach over the railing and get a grip on Steve's head; he pulls Steve over the railing with a snap mare.} [Escobar]: A desperation move by Dominic, and he's free! [Marone]: I wouldn't even need a window ... just some room for my stuff ... [Swayze]: Justin ... he's DOING it again ... {Stumbling around, he gets a hold of a purse from one of the women in the crowd, and wraps the strap around Steve's neck to strangle him.} [Marone]: You know, I hear the word "choke artist" bandied around the lockerrooms every so often ... but for some reason, this wasn't how I saw it. {Steve manages to pull the strap out of the purse to free himself, and Dominic covers himself with a quick eye gouge/punch combination; Steve retaliates with an elbow to the gut. Picking up the chain again, he wraps it around Dominic's waist, and uses it to sling him into (and over) the railing.} [Escobar]: Steve finding 101 uses for a single accessory, sending Dominic for a BIG ride back into the aisle! {Steve climbs back over the railing himself, pulls a board from the wheelbarrow, and does his level best to break it over Dominic's head.} [Marone]: It's nice to see Dominic isn't limited to just Halloween -- he also brought birthday presents for Steve. [Swayze]: Presents?! That was pure-out theft! [Escobar]: It's a no-DQ match, Chad -- anything goes? [Swayze]: What should GO is that sicko thief, all the way to jail! {Steve grabs Nightshade and tries to whip him into the opposite railing, but Dominic scoops him up instead, then powerslams him into the wheelbarrow.} [Swayze]: I should have expected as much -- he associates with known felons ... [Escobar]: CASTIGO! Steve easily taking as much as he's dished out ... [Marone]: He's a creepy dude, but that Dominic is a /dangerous/ creepy dude. {Staggering back, he shoves the wheelbarrow into the railing, jarring Steve, then flips it over, falling on top.} [Escobar]: Referee Tom Newman rushing over to count a pinfall -- remember, aficianados, these two can score a win ANYWHERE in the building! [Swayze]: Yeah, just in case you were deaf and didn't catch "Lungs" Allen ripping that out. {The ref counts: 1 ... 2 ... Steve gets a shoulder up. Dominic pulls up Steve, and whips him down the aisle, through the entrance curtains. He stalks out after him -- only to be taken down at the entrance by Steve, returning with a float kick.} [Marone]: Peekaboo! Steve hits you! [Swayze]: It's bad enough he's stealing identities, and stealing weapons -- now he's stealing MOVES! I gotta get a hold of Robbie ... They should change the name of the team to "Looking 4 Your TV and Good Jewelry"! Angela's probably a cat burglar or something! {He grabs Dominic by the hair and starts dragging him back down the aisle towards the ring.} [Escobar]: We may need to get a mobile camera back there to-- no, wait, Steve seems to be on his way back ... perhaps he's showing concern for what might lie in wait outside the stadium -- such as Perfection? [Swayze]: Are you trying to imply that Perfection would stoop to jumping Steve in the hallways? [Escobar]: Stranger things have happened ... {Steve tries to lift Dominic, but he blocks, then scoops up Steve and slams him onto the ringside steps. He then stumbles over to get his wheelbarrow, fetching a rope and a metal trashcan.} [Swayze]: First of all, they're above that sort of thing -- you know, perfect. And second, you'd have to be a LOON to get in between THESE two right now -- they'll get their chance ... THREE of them ... to disassemble Steve at Danse Macabre! {Returning to Steve, Dominic begins whipping him with the rope as he's trying to stand.} [Swayze]: ... assuming that there's anything left when THIS guy is through with him! {He grabs Steve from behind with a waistlock, but Steve mulekicks his knee, then turns around and backdrops Dominic onto the ring apron.} [Escobar]: Don't be so quick to count out Steve -- OLA! [Marone]: You see, this is EXACTLY his kind of place to be -- no matter how bad it looks for the fans, for Steve, all this crazy stuff is HOME. So the worse Dominic gets, the better Steve feels. [Swayze]: Uh-huh. Dominic throws him through a plate glass window, and Steve's reminded of Mom, huh? Justin, remind me again why we're still here?!? I WANT HAZARD PAY!!! {Steve shoves Dominic into the ring, and rolls in himself; he drags Nightshade into the corner, and sets him up on the top rope. He climbs up onto the second rope, but Dominic jumps off, clotheslining him back to the mat. Nightshade then rolls out of the ring, and slides under it.} [Escobar]: Uh-oh ... Nightshade shifts from playing mind games to simpler games, like hide and seek ... [Marone]: I'd say we should send a camera guy to find him, but he'd probably just get hit with a pumpkin. {Steve shakes off his daze, and slides out of the ring, looking for Nightshade. Wandering around the ring area, he suddenly gets knocked down.} [Escobar]: Steve is barely aware of his OWN bearings right now, let alone the Scarecrow's -- what's this? {The Scarecrow slides out from under the ring near Steve.} [Swayze]: Walked right into THAT one, bay-bee! There's the difference between these two -- Dominic is a THINKING beast! Steve's just a creature of instinct! He has no chance! [Marone]: Hey, that's pretty good ... so, where'd YOU hear it? [Swayze]: Watching "King Kong vs. Godzilla" last night on-- I mean, it's my own stuff! I'm a BRILLIANT analyst-type guy! [Escobar]: Except that you're on strike. {Dominic pulls Steve up, and gets behind him; he manages a German suplex right into the trashcan, leaving Steve doubled up with head and feet sticking outside the can.} [Swayze]: I've been in the sport longer than-- [Marone]: Not me. [Swayze]: Well, longer than JUSTIN, okay? I'm, like, a MAJOR expert! I -- OUCH! [Escobar]: {uneasily} That 'analysis', I'll agree with -- the Insane One just left in a very painful AND untenable position! [Marone]: So, uh, Chad? What happened to being on strike? [Swayze]: Huh? Oh, I'm, uh, still on strike. This is a protest analysis ... y'know, like a protest march? {Dominic drags the can over to the ring, and hefts it onto the apron; after a second's breather, he swings a crescent kick into it to knock it to the floor, spilling Steve out of the can. He falls on top of Steve for a cover: 1 ... 2 ... Steve gets a shoulder up.} [Escobar]: Madre dios! I don't believe this! Steve the Insane is suffering enough punishment for a DOZEN AWI superstars, and he STILL can't be put down! [Swayze]: I can put him down. Just watch me: he's stupid ... he's simple ... he's badly dressed ... {Both men get up, and Steve whips Dominic into the barricade near the press table.} [Swayze]: ... he's-- [Marone]: He's coming this way. [Swayze]: --what?!? Um ... I didn't say that ... look, you get between us, Mike, yeah, right there. >>PRESS TABLE<< {Swayze shoves Mike to be closest to the approaching fight. Steve walks over, then ducks underneath Dominic, preparing for a vertical shoulderlift.} [Marone]: Oh, man, is this going to be cool -- I heard Steve was working on a-- {barely audible} HEY!!! {Dominic reaches behind him, and grabs the headset off Mike's head, and swings it down in a double axehandle motion to whack Steve in the head; he then turns around and begins grinding a fist into Steve's eyes.} [Marone]: {fumbling with headset} Oh, great -- {grumpily} thanks for making me a part of that ... {Dominic steps onto the railing, and jumps off to hit Steve with a bulldog lariat.} [Escobar]: Dominic recovering quickly ... and he hits THE HARVESTER! [Marone]: Uh-oh ... Steve's too young to end up as a loaf of bread! {Dominic pulls Steve over to the apron, and climbs up onto it with him; Steve pushes him away, then grabs his hair and leaps off, slamming him facefirst into the ground.} [Escobar]: Dominic bringing him to the ring for more punishment-- no! YAPPIAN BULLDOG!!! [Marone]: Yappian Bulldog SUPREME. [Swayze]: What are you, the Steve the Insane team coach? {Both men stagger up; Steve grab Dominic in a front waistlock, and falls backwards to drop his head onto the ringside steps.} [Escobar]: THE FRONTAL LOBOTOMY!!! THIS COULD BE IT!!! [Swayze]: Oh, man, I'm feelin' queasy ... [Escobar]: Steve the Insane just decapitated Dominic, and that HAS to be the last straw, no pun intended, for-- wait ... Steve doesn't seem to be even trying to make a cover -- this doesn't make sense ... wait, he's talking to the referee ... he wants a knockout count? [Marone]: I don't blame him. I wouldn't trust Dominic enough to touch him for 3 seconds either. [Escobar]: We've got a 4 ... 5 ... 6 ... 7 ... 8-- no, wait, Dominic's up to his knees, he's answering the ref! {Steve staggers up, and pulls Dominic to his feet; he hefts Dominic into a shoulder sit, then drops to his knees, swinging Dominic down facefirst into the floor. Without letting go of Nightshade's legs, Steve flexes backwards, sending Dominic over him in a wheelbarrow suplex. [Escobar]: No pinfall, perhaps -- but a BRUTAL combination by the Insane One! [Marone]: Down And Out, man -- THAT'S what I was looking for when that creepo took my gear! That has to be the worst thing that can happen to a guy since ... well, since the last ten things Steve did to this guy! {Steve motions to Angela, who tosses him the custom steel chair; he rushes Dominic with it, only to get taken down with a crescent kick that knocks the chair into him. Steve shakes it off quickly, and nails Nightshade with a sidearm swing; he drops the chair, and cinches a front facelock, but Dominic braces himself to block the DDT attempt that follows, and punches Steve off. Steve falls to the floor, and drop toeholds Dominic into the chair.} [Escobar]: Dominic and Steve both adapting quickly to each other's offense ... I'm telling you, aficionados, this bout could EASILY go either way! [Swayze]: Yeah -- either Steve could get pinned ... or Steve could get SERIOUSLY AND PERMANENTLY INJURED! God, I hope Corey's taping this ... {Steve picks up the "Bradley" toy, and lifts it overhead as Dominic stands, but Dominic kicks him in the midsection to cut off his blow. He then slides under the ring, emerging several moments later on the other side; he grabs a broom, which he manages to catch Steve with in the chest as Steve closes in on him.} [Marone]: GEEZ! This punk has more tricks hidden away than Doug Henning! {Dominic sweeps Steve across the eyes with the straw end of the broom, then closes in to deliver an inverted atomic drop. As Steve is reeling, Dominic slides him up into a fireman's carry, and drops a fallaway slam over the railing; hooking his legs in the railing, he holds for a pin cover: 1 ... 2 ... 3!} TIME: 7:23 ================================================================= {The screen cuts to an image of a pair of crash-test dummies fitted with tights in a mock-wrestling ring; they are driven together by motorized pistons, colliding in the center of the ring with a CGI explosion that fades to reveal the "GM" logo in the background, with the words "General Motors CRASH TEST!" superimposed over it ... it then splits apart, opening like doors to show slow motion footage of Dominic Nightshade powerslamming Steve onto the wheelbarrow, then turning it over for a cover.} [Escobar]: These two men pushed themselves -- and each other -- to the limit ... {"Pixel fades" to a slow-motion scene of Steve the Insane's electric chair powerbomb/wheelbarrow suplex combination.} [Escobar]: ... and beyond! That's brutal! That's impact! That's the General Motors Crash Test! And the kind folks at General Motors would like to remind everyone watching, that seat belts save lives, so buckle up! ================================================================= >>PRESS BOOTH<< [Escobar] A novel variant fall, and the Scarecrow will walk away with a win ... but this certainly was never a sure thing! [Swayze] Woulda, coulda, shoulda -- the bottom line is that Dominic took him DOWN, bay-bee! And you're missin' the big picture here, Justino -- Dom LITERALLY beat Steve at his own game! If this rookie can do it, how can he POSSIBLY stand a chance against seasoned veterans, former CHAMPIONS even, like Perfection? [Marone] Well, he does get a partner ... [Escobar] On that note, let's get a ... 'new perspective', you might say, on another part of the AWI tag team scene. ================================================================= {The camera shot opens on a bird's-eye view of the wrestling ring, the angle making it seem dizzyingly high ... and then the ring rushes towards the camera, then spins crazily ... when the view resolves itself, the shot has rotated past the empty seats of the arena towards the ceiling superstructure, and the rope tied to it that is apparently holding the camera ... seated on the workmen's walkway, straddling the rope, is Charlie Hazard, wearing black jeans and boots, an "Ed Carr Wrestling Academy" t-shirt, and a bizarre robe/trenchcoat constructed of white terrycloth towels held together by duct tape.} [Hazard] It's always good to see things from a different point of view, I think ... From up here, the ring seems so small, so tiny, so insignificant -- the way all of you have made ME feel, every time you shove me around, every time you've IGNORED me, made fun of me, even BOOED me. With no one here, so high up, a voice echoes around ... it's so empty, so hollow -- and I know all about empty and hollow ... But now I'm up HERE, get it? THIS is the key, being on TOP OF THE WORLD! It doesn't matter if you were good or bad, if you were a nobody, if you were a loser, even if the love of your life walked out the door and took EVERYTHING, if EVERYONE you knew KICKED YOU AROUND ... because I've seen it on TV, I've seen it in the movies ... you go to the rafters ... you skulk, and hide, and creep quietly -- maybe you even write bad poetry ... Once upon a time an ugly little hunchback hid in the rafters, and when he came out, they made him KING of a festival ... the Phantom of the Opera crept around up here, and he was the hit of Broadway ... even wrestlers are doing it. I know why, now -- when you're up here, up in the rafters, no matter who you are, they LOVE you ... the fans look up to you -- THEY HAVE TO LOOK UP TO YOU! And when they look up, they don't SEE a loser anymore -- they see an ANGEL coming down from the HEAVENS, they see Superman or Underdog coming to save the day -- or maybe they just see the bat or blackbird that haunts their dreams -- but they CHEER IT ANYWAY! At the Danse Overture, I'm going to finally get my chance to BE somebody, to not BE a loser anymore ... and I've finally found the secret to making that happen. So when you walk down that aisle to face me and my Grey Guardian Angel, Chaos Brothers ... LOOK TO THE SKIES! LOOK FOR DEATHWISH CHARLIE, 'cuz that's where I'll be, and the fans will FINALLY LOVE *ME*, CHEER *ME*, and I'll be the HERO nobody ever wanted me to be ... OR DIE TRYING! ================================================================= >>PRESS BOOTH<< [Escobar]: That man doesn't need a match, he needs counseling. [Marone] {craning his neck up} Man, do you think he could still be UP there? I can't really tell ... [Swayze] I wouldn't worry about it ... unless you've been doing a lot of kissing up to that bully of the blue collar man, Blunt Dakota! DAMN, I don't want to be in his army boots when that nutca-- I mean, when that poor victimized man finally gets his big shot at payback. BOOM, bay-bee, like an M-X missile -- death from above! [Escobar] I don't think you should be encouraging a man like that ... in any case, he and his partner WILL be facing off against the Chaos Brothers at the Danse Overture next week -- and if the Chaos Brothers win, Hazard is out of this league in ANY capacity, while if Hazard somehow wins, he gets to wrestle until someone beats him. >>AISLE<< {"Working in a Chain Gang" by Sam Cooke plays over the speakers, as Felony Slade heads down the aisle in a white shirt and tie -- and denim jeans and vest ... he chats amiably with a few fans on his way to the Sniper's Nest, and takes a pen from one to sign a poster, then heads on his way after stuffing the pen in his vest pocket.} [Duncan] Calling this a bit of a surprise would be an understatement, I think ... no offense, Mr. Slade, but where's the body you're supposed to be guarding? [Slade] Well, that's what I'm out here to talk about. See, the boss guy is {slowing down, as if reciting} on a very important and serious administrative mission in San Diego that is all about making sure this is the greatest wrestling promotion in the world, and has nothing to do with his World Series tickets a coupla weeks ago or how much warmer it is there than here. {Speaking more normally} Yeah, that's what he said. [Swayze]: WHAT? Oh, I feel so sorry for you two, having such a lackluster employer and all ... [Duncan] I think I'm beginning to see the picture -- but why are YOU here? [Slade] Well, while he was performing his highly important and wrestling- related duties in San Diego, Mr. Chamberlin decided some events back here needed his attention. So he sent me a letter to read here tonight. Can I? {reaching for the mic} [Duncan] Sure. {He pulls out a piece of paper from his jeans pocket, uncrumples it, and holds it in one hand while talking into the mic.} [Slade] {SQUUUUUUUUUEEEE} Um, sorry about that ... {he coughs to clear his throat, then reads somewhat deliberately} "What up, {city}?" {pauses as the crowd cheers, and grins a bit.} First off, props to our new TV champ, Joe Walker ... but along with that, there's a grievance to address from our OLD TV champion, Mr. Robbie Stevens. [Swayze]: FINALLY ... I was wondering how long it would take Hugo Agogo to deliver this nono. "In response to your complaints that Joe Walker should have been disqualified for breaking Tennessee state reg ... regoo ..." Say, Chad, what's that word? [Duncan] "Regulations." [Slade] Hey, thanks. Man, if the boss guy talked as formal-like as he writes, I'd need somebody to translate. OK, "... regulations, the AWI has carefully reviewed this matter. Yes, the piledriver is outlawed in the state of Tennessee, where said title match took place. On the other hand, the Poppa Bomb is only FRACTIONALLY a piledriver, and thus only fractionally illegal. Hence, I have consulted with senior referee Curtis Keyes, and he has agreed to retroactively issue a referee warning against Joe Walker." {Felony looks up from the letter and wags a finger towards the camera} Naughty, naughty, Joe. Don't do that to Robbie in Nashville again. OK, lessee what else he wrote ... [Swayze]: What -- that's IT?!? Sonuva -- Robbie always said Hugo was soft on felons! I mean, look at who he sent here to cover his hide! I'm tellin' you, that man is MADE, bay-bee! [Felony] {reading again} "Second, to address the recent incidents involving Team Stevens, Jerry Straite, and Kerry Masters. Generally speaking, Joey, if the AWI wants a clown wrestling for us, we'll hire one, so please don't make job hints to Kerry anymore. Normally, the word 'ka-ching' would follow, but it seems like Straite has already exacted a reasonable fine from your hide. Speaking of which -- I understand there was payback involved, but we like our champions to not scare little children and old ladies, so if Jerry Hyde comes out to play again soon, we may have to forward you the addresses of some of my favorite charities." [Swayze]: Right, godfather, we understand -- well, look out, because Smilin' Joey's got his own connections, see? Your days are numbered, Corleone! [Felony] {still reading} "Lastly, Mr. Chad Swayze ..." [Swayze]: Huh? [Felony] "While the AWI has shown great lat ... lat --" no, I got this one, Chad -- "latitude" -- see, I told you -- "latitude in your presence at the broadcast booth, the line only goes so far. If you are found to be aiding any more ambushes while acting in the capacity of a commentator, the AWI will BAN you from the pressbox until further notice." [Swayze]: WHAT?! YOU CAN'T DO THAT! I HAVE MY RIGHTS! [Marone]: Looks like you'll have those rights in the lockers pretty soon ... hey, can I have your seat? It's got a better microphone. [Swayze]: I'M NOT /GOING/ ANYWHERE!!! [Felony] That's pretty much the end of the letter -- there's some stuff about feedin' his fish, but I don't think that's important ... thanks for listening! {"Working On the Chain Gang" kicks up again, and Felony heads out -- then trots back a few seconds later, sheepishly handing back the mic, before heading back down the aisle, returning the pen to an amused fan along the way.} [Escobar]: That was a rather ... interesting turn of events ... unfortunately, the next turn of events WE take is going to be a commercial break. [Swayze]: Obviously brought to you by men of respect! But we won't take this lying down! Mark my words, Hugo, the Main Man will take care of this! ================================================================= WHEN WE RETURN: The War Machine meets a suplex machine! COMMERCIALS: What movie is this trailer for? Why are all those kids talking to themselves? Which guy is that girl going out with again? How come the coach isn't in on this? HOW CAN YOU LET THAT GUY TAKE HIS CLOTHES OFF??? DAMN, THAT CHICK IS HOT!!! WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH FOOTBALL??? IS THERE A STORY HERE??? Varsity Blues: it's the one without the aliens or Tommy jeans. ================================================================= {The camera cuts to an animated scene, depicting two figures which seem to be rather distorted, melodramatic versions of Steve the Insane and Joe Walker, confronting a pair of men in wrestling tights and ninja accessories, in a wrestling ring which looks about a mile wide; the two appear to be speaking in angry Japanese, somewhat hushed as if from a distance.} [Voiceover]: {whispery} You know, this looks very strange. {The animated Looking For A Fight rushes forward with a simultaneous yell, as the background turns black, streaked with multicolored "speed lines".} [Anime Joe] {Grabs one ninja} SUPININGU MANHATTAN BUSTA!!! {"Joe" spins the ninja around vertically about a dozen times, eventually looking like a whirlwind in front of him, before throwing him down on one knee. The scene cuts to "Steve", who waistlocks the other ninja.} [Anime Steve] FURANTARU ROBOTOMI!!! {"Steve" appears to grow to Godzilla-esque proportions as he falls backwards; the ninja's head collides with the ringpost and literally explodes in a shower of red, which is thankfully obscured by the camera backing up to reveal (live action) Steve and Joe on a couch, watching the above on a television set, with slightly shell-shocked expressions; a Japanese man in business suit and sunglasses kneels in front of the TV, gesturing encouragingly.} [Joe & Steve] {in unison} Uhhhh ... no. {Cut to image of the AWI logo.} : There's No Substitute. {Cut back to Joe, Steve, and the TV, which is now showing a animated Angela Dante (big eyes, small mouth), sporting a rather scanty "Sailor Moon" style uniform.} [Steve] On the other hand ... ================================================================= {We fade into a night time scene of a city park, where the camera follows a *very* tall man with short-trimmed rusty brown hair walking along a narrow asphalt path, wearing stone-washed black denim pants, a blue-grey laced shirt, and a dark brown leather dress jacket. Any but the most casual AWI fan would recognize him quickly as the "War Machine" Greg Gardner.} [Greg Gardner] Out for a little fresh air tonight, but I can tell you, that air sure seems a little colder now ... it's carrying that extra chill that comes from the Halloween winds. You know the ones: the winds that carry the ghosts ... that carry the nightmares ... that carry the bad memories. {The camera slowly zooms as he talks.} Bad memories. Kerry Masters is on the prowl again, sniffing after every John Doe with a gold belt, as Kerry is wont to do -- *and* dropping my name along the way to perk up some ears. Wasn't all that long ago when I was giving Mr. Masters everything he'd need to talk about and more ... but the less said about that, the better -- consider that advice, Kerry. Bad memories, like the kind Reverend James had to go and dig up: one of my best friends in the business skirting the edge of sanity, and putting the hurt on another of our friends. Now that friend is putting his neck on the line in a World Championship match ... and courtesy of the same man who claimed credit for his trip to the edge. Justice, my friend, you better believe I would be thrilled to see you walk out of that ring as the Man -- but you watch your back in there, and know that I'm watching it, too. Bad memories. Justice went to the edge and came back ... Jack Fury, you went *over* the edge, and just kept going. Once upon a time, you chose to stand against me alongside a man you hated more than anything, in the name of respect. You got my respect that night, Jack ... and you kept my respect the night you twisted my leg in half and won back the title I took from you at Union 1. But I look at you now, Jack, and I don't see the man who earned that respect. I see excuses ... I see shortcuts ... I see lies ... but most of all, Jack Fury, I see FEAR -- because you know, since we last met, the War Machine has only gotten better, and Jack Fury has only gotten bitter. It's a little ironic, Jack, that it's going to take the AWI's own answer to Halloween to make you face that fear ... to make you face ME. On the 30th, I WILL enter the four rings of the Danse Macabre, and I WILL walk out the winner ... and then I'll have you where you can't run away, Jack. And after that, you're going to be nothing but a bad memory once again ... ================================================================= [Rod Allen] Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for our Line of Fire MAIN EVENT! {The crowd cheers in anticipation.} [Allen] Introducing first, already in the ring ... weighing in at two hundred forty pounds ... accompanied at ringside tonight by his manager, the "Mastermind" Alliyah Johnston ... from Jackson, Mississippi, he is the MASTER of the Northern Lights Suplex ... MAURICE JACKSON! {Maurice rubs his arms and shrugs his shoulders in a generic loosening up preparation, as the crowd boos mildly.} [Allen] And his opponent tonight ... stands SEVEN FEET, one inch tall ... weighing in at three hundred eighty-five pounds ... {Smoke projectors begin pouring out a cloud near the aisle entrance, as "War Pigs" (the Faith No More cover) begins to roar over the speakers, and the crowd does their level best to drown it out with their cheers. Spotlights within the cloud illuminate a BIG shadow inside it.} [Rod Allen] ... this is the WWWAAARRR MACHINE ... GREG ... GARDNER!!! {Gardner emerges from the smoke cloud, as sparklers spout up around him; he circles around for a moment, acknowledging the crowd, before continuing down the aisle.} [Escobar]: Listen to that crowd! This promises to be a great match -- and Gardner's first bout with a title contender since his unfortunate loss to Ken Mischief at International Incident. [Swayze]: Unfortunate? Try "uninteresting", "unsurprising", or "unavoidable"! You like to make a big deal about what a sportsman Gardner is -- well, he ought to be disqualified during every match, because he CHOKES! {Gardner and Jackson lock up for a collar elbow tieup, but Maurice immediately throws a knee into Gardner's crotch; he moves around for a go-behind takedown, and locks scissors around Greg's abdomen.} [Escobar]: Textbook takedown and technical hold from Mr. NLS -- though preceded by a 'counter' more in line with his new manager's style. [Swayze]: Style, style ... why pick apart everything into styles? Don't you know the best style is not having a style? [Marone]: No style, huh? I think you've got that covered. {Gardner pushes out, and Jackson whacks him with a heel kick before standing.} [Swayze]: {disgusted} Laugh it up, goofy, I'm just trying to pass along the wisdom of the ancient Shao-Lin temples-- [Escobar]: --as heard on "Enter the Dragon", I would guess. {Pulling Gardner up, he tries to whips Greg into the ropes; Greg reverses the whip, sending Jackson into the corner.} [Swayze]: Yeah, so? It's a matter of record that Bruce Lee has only 3 surviving students -- and only one in active competition today! Go on, guess! [Escobar]: I think I'll pass. {He lets Maurice stagger out, before whipping him to the opposite corner; as Maurice bounces out, he scoops him up onto one shoulder, turns around, and drops him with a running powerslam, hooking a leg for a cover: 1 ... Maurice throws a foot onto the ropes, and Gardner breaks cleanly.} [Escobar]: The War Machine asserting control over this match RIGHT from the get go! No doubt, Maurice Jackson is wishing he was anywhere but in the ring with this monster right now! [Swayze]: Are you kidding? You think ONE big move from this guy is going to scare off Maurice? That man is confidence incarnate -- just give him a little time to get running, and he'll find a way to take apart Gardner for good! {Both men stand up, and Greg snares Jackson with a headlock; he counters with a legsweep to drop Greg, then rushes to the ropes. Bouncing off, he leaps for a kneedrop, but Gardner rolls aside.} [Marone]: You know, something about this seems ... backwards. [Swayze]: What, that it's the 400 pound gorilla there ducking and dodging instead of the finely honed athlete he's facing? {Both men stand; Greg scoops up Jackson and slams him, then pulls him back to his feet to whip into the turnbuckles.} [Marone]: {fumbling sounds} No, my headset -- it got put on backwards after Dominic messed with it. [Swayze]: I think the head/set/ was on correctly. {He picks Maurice up from the corner, and presses him overhead before slamming him down again.} [Escobar]: TOWERING press slam! Maurice Jackson gets taken up over ten feet in the air, and dropped back to the mat! [Marone]: No parachute, either. Ouch. {Greg lets Maurice back to his feet, and then whips him into the ropes, catching him on the rebound with a big boot kick. He pulls Maurice back up, for which he is thanked with a punch to the groin. Maurice attempts an armbar, but Gardner blocks it; he cinches up Jackson in a bearhug.} [Escobar]: Even trade between these two men -- I would certainly be hard-pressed to call a winner at this point ... [Swayze]: Don't worry -- it won't be long before Mo-Jack works his NLS mojo, and then you can let Rod do the only winner-calling that counts! [Marone]: So when you call the winner names, that doesn't count? [Swayze]: Don't you have to go stuff your mouth with hot dogs or something? [Marone]: Nah -- seein' Colt 'n' Steve lose cost me my appetite. {Jackson twists free, and takes down Gardner with a legwheel judo throw. Dropping to the mat, he again locks Gardner in abdominal scissors.} [Escobar]: Not to deny Maurice any credit due, but I think it may be quite some time before we see a northern lights suplex from him in this match -- he seems more focussed on this steady paced mat-wrestling approach. [Marone]: That, and a whole buncha holds. {Gardner breaks free, and Jackson smacks him with a foot to the chest.} [Swayze]: It's like hypnotizing a snake, Justin ... you ... make ... slooowww ... movements ... and ... theeennn ... {He stands up, bounces off the near ropes, and attempts another kneedrop -- and again misses.} [Swayze]: ... WHA-BAM! Uh -- whoops. [Marone]: OK, so at this point, what does Mo do for antivenin? [Swayze]: Put a lid on it, Miko. {This time, he's quicker to recover, and grabs Gardner in a headlock on the mat.} [Marone]: Maybe he really IS wrestling the mat, and that's why he keeps knee dropping it? [Swayze]: Lid, you -- why is this so hard a concept? {Standing up, attempts to whip Greg into the corner, but Greg reverses ... and then Maurice reverses *again*, so Greg hits the turnbuckles anyways.} [Escobar]: Counter by Greg-- NO, by Maurice! [Swayze]: Don't undersell this man -- he may not be a giant, but Maurice Jackson is one STRONG man! Throwing victim after victim over his head in those crushing suplexes is better than barbells, bay-bee! {Maurice rushes in with a standing splash, but Gardner catches him in a waistlock, then drops him on a knee. Jackson rolls out of the ring. Gardner steps over the top rope and hops off the apron.} [Escobar]: Mr. NLS looks to be taking a breather, but the War Machine is not ready to call a cease fire yet ... he stalks after Maurice Jackson, as the smaller man confers with Alliyah Johnston ... wait a minute -- she seems to be handing him something ... [Marone]: I got a bad feeling about this ... [Swayze]: I got a GREEEEEAT feelin' about this! {Gardner catches up to Maurice, just in time for Jackson to spin around and cut Gardner in the jaw with a HARD punch; Gardner goes down flat.} [Swayze]: Wha-BAM, bay-bee! I always knew the big man had a glass jaw! Alliyah passing on a little boxing know-how, and Godzilla is O-U-T! Haha! [Escobar]: Boxing knowledge?!? I think I see what's going on here -- Maurice has a pair of brass knuckles on that hand! I think it's obvious Alliyah was passing on more than words of wisdom! [Swayze]: It's what you call SOLID advice, Justino! {Maurice picks up Gardner, and drops him with a belly-to-belly suplex. He then pulls Greg back to his knees before slamming him in the chin with another knuckle duster.} [Escobar]: This is absolutely evil! Maurice Jackson pushing Greg back into the ring before the referee's count is completed ... he might very well use one of his NLS specials right now, and what a travesty it would be! [Swayze]: Same travesty we get every night with Jackson -- only seeing ONE of his northern lights suplexes! What a tease! {Maurice bounces off the ropes and rushes Gardner, who rolls to one side; Jackson hops over him and continues to the opposite side as Gardner gets to his feet. Jackson rebounds, only to get intercepted by a high-elevation sidewalk slam from Gardner.} [Escobar]: Maurice on his game this time, choosing to skip the kneedrops and try a standing target ... AND WHAT A STAND!!! SKYWALK SLAM from the big man -- I wouldn't have thought he had it in him! {Gardner shakes off some obvious exhaustion, and goes to pull up Maurice; Maurice knocks him away with a headbutt. Jackson then locks Gardner in an abdominal stretch.} [Escobar]: Maurice Jackson has not had much luck with the faster paced match, so he wisely chooses to slow the pace down, and keep Gardner immobilized ... [Marone]: Not to mention putting the hurt on his stomach ... everyone can see how knocking out your knee slows you down for the rest of the match, but I'm not sure people appreciate how tough it is to fight when your gut is all bruised and stiff -- it's like being wrapped up in an invisible straitjacket ... [Swayze]: Yeah, like Greg could GET any stiffer ... I'd put more money on Al Gore in a mobility contest. {Gardner breaks free; he grabs Maurice by the wrist, and yanks him in for a shortarm kneelift. Pulling Jackson back to his feet, Greg eats another headbutt counter; Maurice manages to lift Greg across his shoulders, then shrug him forward to drop rib-first onto one knee.} [Escobar]: Hard impact maneuver from Mr. NLS -- as you reminded us earlier, Chad, Maurice may not be the biggest man in AWI, but there is no lack of muscle on those arms! [Marone]: Just a lack of arms on those muscles. {Jackson drops to the mat, locking on a grounded abdominal stretch.} [Escobar]: I'd have to put some stock in Mike's interpretation -- Maurice Jackson might very well be looking to compromise Gardner's power assault ... {Gardner breaks free, and smacks Maurice with a forearm; standing up, he cinches on a bearhug.} [Marone]: Right -- and Greg's gettin' in some payback for it ... {Maurice pushes free of the hug, and kicks Gardner in the midsection; Gardner counters with a shortarm kneelift, then quickly hooks Maurice's arms over his back for a tiger bomb.} [Marone]: RICHTER scale, man! [Escobar]: Gardner steps up the offense, and makes a cover -- 1 ... Maurice kicks free! [Swayze]: That's it! You can't keep the Mo-Master down for long! {Gardner grabs Jackson in a side headlock, and pulls him to his feet; he bends Maurice down, crosses Jackson's arms beneath his chest, and uses them to swing him up into another powerbomb.} [Escobar]: Gardner maintaining control ... and a PYRAMID DRIVER marks detonation numero dos! One! Two! Thre--no! Maurice rakes a boot across Gardner's eye to break the fall. [Marone]: I don't think the big guy has much left in him ... Mo's obviously hurt too, but he's got a lot more tricks up his sleeve ... (*grumbling*) like brass knuckles. [Swayze]: Anything to put a "V" in the "me" column, Miko! Pretty soon, the Gardner gauge is gonna be runnin' a big fat "E", and then it's Mo-Rees if you Plees! {Both men get to their feet; Maurice takes Gardner down with an armdrag. He pulls Gardner up, and cinches him in preparation for a suplex, but Gardner blocks, and lifts him up vertical suplex style instead; as he falls backwards, Gardner lets Jackson drop in front of him, landing in a powerbomb position. He leans forward to make a cover, but Maurice quickly kicks out, and rolls out of the ring.} [Swayze]: Yes! Suplex time! Here comes the -- HEY!!! [Escobar]: OLA! Maurice Jackson HIGH in the air -- and Greg Gardner crushes Mr. NLS with ... you might call it a variant of the Straite Down ... [Marone]: And Mo is going straight OUTTA the ring, man! {Alliyah hands Jackson the knuckles again, as Gardner steps over the ropes; this time, Gardner hops off the apron to hit Maurice with an elbowsmash.} [Escobar]: Gardner on the chase -- but he's taking the high road this time! [Swayze]: {disgusted} Amazing ... it can learn. {Alliyah hits Gardner from behind with a karate kick; Gardner recovers, and grabs her, setting her down (relatively) harmlessly behind the barricade -- but allowing Jackson to rabbit punch him with the knuckles.} [Escobar]: NO! Gardner taking the chivalric route to safety -- and Maurice Jackson backstabs him for his trouble! [Marone]: I don't know -- that looked more like it hit his neck. [Swayze]: What do you expect for the way he brutalized that poor lady? [Escobar]: BRUTA -- Chad, every so often it would help if you'd watch the same match WE are! [Swayze]: Can I help it if you're ignoring the obvious? {Jackson pulls Greg back to his feet, and grabs him for a repeat of the earlier belly-to-belly, but Gardner picks him up for an elevated sidewalk slam instead.} [Escobar]: Jackson falling back to his tried and tested gameplan -- but another Skywalk Slam, and he's staring at the ceiling! {Gardner staggers back to the ring and rolls inside, just in time to avoid the final count.} [Escobar]: Gardner's back inside ... and the referee is calling for the bell! Maurice has been counted out! TIME: 6:17 >>AISLE<< {A BIG man with bushy mustache and muttonchops can be seen making his way down to the ring, with a rather grim expression on his face.} [Escobar]: What's this-- it's Riverboat! Riverboat, of the Mississippi Mob! He's heading to the ring right now -- and he's just ripping away those knuckles from Maurice! [Swayze]: Run, Mo! It's an ambush! Gardner's hired backup! {Riverboat rolls into the ring, and motions over Curtis Keyes; he begins talking to him rather irritatedly.} [Escobar]: It seems he's upset about the use of those knuckles, and wants to set the record straight with Keyes -- though frankly, given that Greg has already won the match, I suppose it's merely a matter of principle ... [Swayze]: Yeah, right, you don't think he could be trying to cheap Greg into TWO wins over Jackson? Hmm? Punk ... {Keyes calls over Greg, who walks over slowly; the three talk for a moment, and Gardner gets a stunned expression on his face, staring at Keyes, then Riverboat, as if he'd grown a third eye.} [Escobar]: This is getting stranger by the second -- I -- I think Riverboat is actually claiming that GREG used those brass knuckles on Maurice! [Marone]: Man, I know the monitors in back are fuzzy, but that's really out of whack. You mind if I go tell him he's got it all mixed up, Justin? [Swayze]: No WAY, Maronay! You keep your pants plastered to that seat! If /I'm/ stuck here, YOU'RE stuck here! {Greg shakes his head violently, turning to Keyes and gesturing at Jackson outside the ring; Riverboat takes a full windup, and smacks Greg in the back of the head.} [Escobar]: This is simply preposterous ... I don't know what he's trying to-- MADRE DIOS!!! [Swayze]: As a once-great colleague of mine might have put it: "Yyyyyeeeessss!!!" Three for three, bay-bee! Three times in one night! Does it get any sweeter? {Curtis Keyes practically falls backwards in shock, as Riverboat begins alternating punches and stomps on the doubled over Greg.} [Swayze]: Four! Five! Six! COREY, ARE YOU GETTING THIS?!? [Escobar]: This -- this is SICKENING! Riverboat is-- what possible reason could he have for backstabbing the War Machine like this?!? [Marone]: I don't think it's fashion disagreement ... man, I LIKED Riverboat! What's UP with this?? {Riverboat gestures to Alliyah, and shouts, "This is for you, baby!", then scoops up Gardner and delivers a reverse fallaway slam.} [Escobar]: No, not -- MADRE DIOS -- THE PADDLEWHEEL!!! Alliyah and Maurice are heading into the ring, arena security is heading for the ring, and Riverboat is shoving Gardner OUT of the ring ... {Riverboat kicks Gardner underneath the bottom rope, and turns back to Alliyah, who leaps into his arms for a big time hug.} [Escobar]: People, we are OUT of TIME! I'd like to say we'll do our best to clear this up next week -- only Line of Fire will not be seen next Friday, because we're going to be in Boston's Fenway Park for DANSE MACABRE! Be sure to catch our special Danse Overture broadcast Thursday instead ... until then, this is Justin Escobar, with Mike Marone and Chad Swayze ... good night! ================================================================= This work copyright © 1999 by Allied Sports Enterprises. Allied Wrestling International is a member of the Summit Wrestling Alliance; permission is given to distribute or rebroadcast AWI footage in cooperation with Summit Wrestling events. "CBS Eye" is a registered trademark of Columbia Broadcasting System, used without permission for purposes of parody; no actual association between the writers and CBS should be inferred. "Promotional" trademarks likewise used without permission or affiliation for purposes of parody. =================================================================